Canada Citizen / PR Dependent Visa

Canada PR visa is a popular choice for those looking to migrate to Canada. The immigrant-friendly policies of Canada and the government’s encouragement of migrants to come and settle here have motivated many to try and migrate here.

Apart from this, settling down in Canada holds the promise of a comfortable lifestyle and the right living conditions. There are numerous job opportunities and the promise of personal freedom.

One of the options to migrate to Canada is to obtain a Permanent Resident (PR) visa. With a PR visa, you will be given permanent resident status. The validity of a PR visa is five years which can later be renewed.

The PR visa does not make you a citizen of Canada; you are still a citizen of your native country.

Benefits of a Canada PR visa

As a PR visa holder, you can enjoy the following benefits:

• Can apply for Canadian citizenship in the future
• Can live, work and study anywhere in Canada
• Eligible for healthcare and other social benefits enjoyed by Canadian citizens
• Protection under Canadian law

You will have to exclusively apply for the PR visa if you are a student or a worker from a foreign country, it does not automatically make you a permanent resident of the country.

Refugees from another country do not automatically become permanent residents. Their status as a refugee must be approved by the Immigration and Refugee Board. Subsequent to this, they can apply for and obtain a PR status.

Latest Canada Immigration Level Plan 2023 – 2025

On November 1, 2022, IRCC released the new Immigration level plan 2023 – 2025 and targeted to invite 1.5 million permanent residents to Canada. According to that plan, the country has set the highest target as it plans to welcome new immigrants. The immigration landings for the coming three years are given below:

Apart from this, you can also go through the key highlights of Canada Immigration Level Plan 2023-2025, which include:

• Country welcomes around 465,000 permanent residents in 2023
• On the whole, admissions will account for 1.14% of the Canadian population by 2024.
• Long-term focus on the country’s economic growth allows 60% of immigrants through Economic Class.
• Special procedures for granting permanent residence to refugee claimants working in health care sectors, especially during the pandemic.
• Support for global crises by providing a safe environment through humanitarian immigration
• Talent acquisition of those already in Canada by granting permanent residency status to temporary residents migrated through the time-limited pathways for essential workers.
• Recognizing the importance of family reunification helps maintain the 12-month processing standard for spouses and children.

1. Federal Skilled Workers Program (FSWP)
2. Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
3. Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

If you are a skilled worker, you can apply for a PR visa under the Federal Skilled Workers Program. This was initiated by the Canadian government in 2015 to encourage skilled workers to come and settle in the country. To qualify under this program, you should be able to get 67 points out of 100 in the eligibility factors given below:

1. Age: Those between 18-35 years get maximum points. Those above 35 get lesser points while the maximum age to qualify is 45 years.
   

2. Education: Under this category, your educational qualification must be equal to higher secondary education under Canadian standards.

3. Work experience: For minimum points, you should have at least one-year of full-time work experience. More years of work experience means more points. Your occupation must be listed as Skill Type 0 or Skill Level A or B of the National Occupational Classification (NOC).
   

4. Language ability: You must have at least 6 bands in your IELTS test and the score must be less than 2 years old. You get extra points if you are proficient in French.

5. Adaptability: If your spouse or common-law partner is willing to migrate with you to Canada, you are entitled to 10 extra points for adaptability.

6. Arranged employment: You can gain a maximum of 10 points if you have a valid offer from a Canadian employer.

Canada PR visa through the Express Entry program

If you are lucky enough to qualify for a PR visa through the Express Entry program, you can be selected from a pool of eligible candidates based on your Express Entry profile. You will get an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Canada PR status. If you get your ITA you can start the documentation process for your PR visa.

The ITA is similar to a response sent by the IRCC to Express Entry applicants. It is sent to those who have the highest CRS score in a particular Express Entry draw which is usually held on a monthly basis.

Once you receive your ITA, you are given 90 days to submit documents that support the information you provided to create your Express Entry profile.

The ITA will let you know which program you have been selected to apply for your PR visa- CEC or any other Express Entry program. If you check the Express Entry portal, you will find a list of documents that is specific to the program you have applied for. You will also have to submit these documents with your application. Here are some of the common documents you will be required to submit:

• Documents supporting your English language test results
• Civil status documents such as your birth certificate
• Documents in proof of your education achievements
• Documents in proof of your work experience
• Medical certificate
• Police clearance certificate
• Proof of funds
• Photos

You will also have to provide a medical certificate from a doctor approved by the IRCC.

The next step is to give your biometrics (fingerprints and photos). In case you have to give your biometrics, you can go to the nearest biometric collection center.

• After you have completed your medical tests, biometrics, and the required documents, you can submit your application.
• Processing times can differ, but approximately it will take six months for your PR visa to be processed.
• You may have to attend a short interview if the IRCC feels the need, before giving the final decision on your application.

If your application is accepted, you will receive the Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) by mail from IRCC. Approval means that as an applicant you and the family members accompanying you will get visas that will allow them to travel to a Canadian Port of Entry (POE) to obtain their official permanent resident documents.

Provincial Nominee Program

Canada offers nearly 80 different Provincial Nominee Programs or PNP which have their individual eligibility requirements. The PNP program allows provinces to meet their individual immigration needs by helping them fill jobs that are in demand and meet labor shortages in their province.

Most PNPs require applicants to have some connection to the province. They should have either worked earlier in that province or studied there. Or they should have a job offer from an employer in the province for a job visa.

However, there are some PNPs that require no previous connection to the province you are applying for; you can apply directly to the PNP program of that province.

Some of the popular PNP programs are:

• Saskatchewan PNP
• Manitoba PNP
• Alberta PNP
• Ontario PNP
• New Brunswick PNP
• Nova Scotia
• Prince Edward Island
• British Columbia

Eligibility criteria for the PNP:

An applicant must score a minimum number of points to be able to apply for a PR visa. Here are the various criteria under which you can score points to meet the eligibility requirement:

• Age
• Education
• Work experience
• Language ability
• Adaptability
• Arranged employment

Application for a PR visa through the PNP program requires the applicants to have some connection to the province. You can be either work in that province or have studied there. You can be eligible if you have a job offer from an employer in the province.

The criteria for evaluating the PR application can differ for each province.

The PNP is an option you can choose if your CRS points score is not high enough and you still get your provincial nomination. When making your PNP application you can choose a province from where it will be easy to get a nomination based on your profile.

There are two ways to apply for the PNP-Non-Express Entry method and Express Entry method.

In the non-Express Entry method, you will apply directly to the province or territory where you want to work. You will need to send a Notice of Interest (NOI) to the province, and will receive an ITA for permanent residence if chosen. This process could take 15 to 19 months.

In the Express Entry method, you will have to create an online Express Entry Profile, during which you will be asked to indicate the province or territory in which you are interested. Then you will either have to apply directly for nomination depending on the province or territory, or you will be selected and notified by the province.

Express Entry linked PNPS:

Eligibility criteria Express Entry linked PNPs for each province  are given below:

Prince Edward Island

Eligibility criteria:

The first important aspect is that you must be eligible for nomination under PEI Express Entry by meeting the requirements of any of the Federal Economic Immigration programs:

• Federal Skilled Worker Program.
• Federal Skilled Trades Program; or
• Canadian Experience Class

PEI offers two pathways to permanent residency through the Express Entry Category, depending on the fact whether you have a job offer in PEI or not.  First preference will be given to those who are living and working in the province.

Saskatchewan

Eligibility Criteria:

You must have gained acceptance in IRCC’s Express Entry pool and pay a non-refundable $350 application fee of CAD 350.

You will qualify for the program if you are living outside Canada or have proof of your legal status. Other eligibility conditions include:

• You must have a valid Express Entry Profile Number and Job Seeker Code.
• You must have a minimum score of 60 points on the SINP point assessment grid.
• Your language test result should meet the federal Express Entry language requirements.
• You must have completed post-secondary school or training that is comparable to at least one year of Canadian education. You must have a diploma, certificate, or degree.
• For any educational qualification completed outside Canada, you must submit an educational credential assessment (ECA) from IRCC’s list of approved organizations.

• You must have work experience in a job that is not on the Excluded Occupation List.

ECA fee update:

MCC – Medical Council of Canada	2022	Applicable to
Account Registration	310	All candidates are required to pay one-time, non-refundable account fee
Document Fee (SVR)	190	A document fee is charged per each Medical Credential document submitted for (SVR) Source Verification Request
Translation Fee	140	A translation fee is charged per Page to be translated (non-refundable)
ECA Report Fee	120	Education Credential Assessment Report fee
Cancellation and Reimbursement Fee on (Document Evaluation)	65	Only if the document has not yet been processed by MCC then a cancellation and reimbursement can be requested against the Document Fee.

Minimum work experience required:

• For skilled professionals (not tradespeople): one-year work experience in the past 10 years.
• For skilled tradespeople: two years’ work experience in a skilled trade in the past five years.
• One year of work experience in Canada in the past three years (skilled tradespeople and skilled professionals).
• Your work experience must be related to your job and education.

Manitoba

Eligibility Criteria:

A friend or relative who has a PR status/Canadian citizenship will have to submit an Expression of Interest under-skilled worker overseas. The Expression of Interest should have details about:

• your identity
• your contact information
• your education, work experience, and official language proficiency
• your connection to Manitoba and Canada

British Columbia

Eligibility Criteria:

To qualify, you must first have a valid job offer from a B.C. employer. You should also have the relevant training and experience.

Alberta

Eligibility criteria

An application can be made by candidates who have demonstrated good ties to Alberta or who can help support the economic growth and diversification goals of the government.

New Foundland and Labrador

Eligibility Criteria:

• You must have taken the IELTS or Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) language test within the last twelve months and have a score equal to Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 5 or higher.
• You must have a minimum age of 21 years of age
• You must have an intention to live in Newfoundland and Labrador on a permanent basis

Nova Scotia

To apply for this province, applicants must have at least one year of experience working in Nova Scotia in a highly skilled occupation.

Eligibility Criteria:

• You must have at least 1 year of work experience in the province.
• You must be between 21 to 55 years.
• Your education should be a Canadian high school credential or equivalent.
• You should have language ability in English or French on the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB).
• Your profile must be registered in the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s Express Entry system

Ontario

Ontario’s Express Entry Human Capital Priorities Stream is an immigration stream under the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP).

Eligibility criteria:

You must have a clear profile in the Express Entry system of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC’s) and obtain a Notification of Interest from Ontario before you can apply online to be nominated for permanent residence by the Ontario government.

Northwest Territories

Northwest Territories Express Entry Stream for Skilled Workers

Eligibility criteria:

• Possess the Express Entry pool acceptance letter issued by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada’s Express Entry Pool.
• Provide a valid job seeker validation code.
• Maintain legitimate status during the application process in the Express Entry pool.
• Meet the qualifying requirements for the Skilled Worker Stream of the Northwest Territories.
• Must have interest in permanently settling in the Northwest Territories.

Those wishing to apply for the PNP programs linked with Express Entry pool must first create an Express Entry profile. There is also the option for applying under the non-Express Entry aligned PNPs.

If you are applying under such a PNP, you can add 600 CRS points to your Express Entry application. This increases your possibility of getting an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for your PR visa in the subsequent invitation round. Those wishing to apply for such PNP programs must first create an Express Entry profile.

You will be asked to indicate the province or territory in which you are interested. Then you will either have to apply directly for nomination depending on the province or territory, or you will be selected and notified by the province.

Provincial Nominee Programs in Canada

Saskatchewan PNP

The Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) has the International Skilled Worker Category which has two active streams that do not require job offers. The first is the Saskatchewan Express Entry-linked stream, which requires the applicant to have an active profile in the federal Express Entry system. The second is the Saskatchewan Occupation In-Demand stream, which requires the applicant to have at least one year of work experience in one of the positions featured in the In-Demand Occupations List of Saskatchewan.

Application steps for the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP)

• Make an online account
• Fill in the form to complete the various sections.
• After you’ve completed the basics, scan and upload all of your completed forms and other supporting documents to your online application in PDF format. (Remember to keep the originals for future reference.)
• Save and submit your application online, then wait for instructions to complete the next steps.
• Once the SINP receives the complete online applications, it will provide a receipt letter to candidates
• Next, it will assess applications against the eligibility criteria and in case of any missing or incomplete documents or information; it will contact the candidate regarding the same
• It will appoint candidates for permanent residency status to the federal government if they meet the eligibility requirements.
• Candidates who have been nominated for the SINP will have 30 days to accept the nomination in the Express Entry system.
• Candidates have 60 days from the time the nominations are accepted to submit this application.
• IRCC will issue permanent resident visas if the candidate meets all of the requirements.

Processing time

The information on SINP application processing time is updated (every three months). After receiving the applicant’s completed application, the processing begins.

Benefits of Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program

If an applicant wishes to apply for a permanent visa in Canada, the SNIP program provides many benefits. The following are a few of them:

• Each year, the SINP receives a large number of applications.
• Application processing is completed quickly.
• Prompt assistance from immigration officials at the provincial level
• To be eligible for the program, you must have a minimum of 4-5 CLB levels

Candidates for Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) can apply under any one of the following categories:

1. International Skilled Worker Category
2. Saskatchewan Experience Category
3. Entrepreneur and Farm Category

International Skilled Worker Category: This category offers opportunities for skilled workers from outside Canada. Under this stream, the province of Saskatchewan will select candidates to nominate for immigration if they have skilled work experience any one of Saskatchewan’s in-demand occupations.

Saskatchewan Experience Category: Under this category, foreign nationals who are already living and working in Saskatchewan and want to become permanent residents can apply. This program is divided into several streams.

Entrepreneur and Farm Category: This stream is open for those who want to start a business in the province or wish to own or operate a farm in Saskatchewan.

Before you apply under any of these categories ensure that you meet the eligibility requirements.

Application process

Application to the SINP is a two-step process.

In the first step you must first submit an Expression of Interest for SINP. Based on your qualifications you will be given a score out of 100 points using the SINP points assessment grid. To be eligible you must score a minimum of 60 points out of 100. Candidates with the highest scores will be invited to apply for the SINP.

In the second step, you must submit an official application for provincial nomination. Once your application is approved you can directly apply to the Canadian government for your permanent resident status.

Manitoba PNP

The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) welcomes graduates, skilled workers, businesspeople and their families to settle in the province as permanent residents.

PNP pathways in Manitoba

Skilled Worker Stream: This stream is open for skilled workers who can meet the needs of the local labor market. There are two streams under this category:

• Skilled Workers in Manitoba
• Skilled Workers Overseas

International Education Stream: This stream is for international students graduates in Manitoba. There are three pathways under this stream:

• Career Employment Pathway
• Graduate Internship Pathway
• International Student Entrepreneur Pilot

International students from other provinces are not eligible for this stream.

Business Investor Stream: Under this stream, Manitoba will recruit and nominate qualified business investors and entrepreneurs from around the world intend to start or buy a business in Manitoba.

There are two pathways under this stream:

• Entrepreneur Pathway
• Farm Investor Pathway

Eligibility requirements

• Applicant must be between 21 and 45 years
• Must have at least an undergraduate degree or diploma
• Have a minimum score of 60 out of 100 in the MPNP assessment grid
• Have a minimum of 2 years of experience in relevant field
• Must have a valid job offer in an occupation in-demand
• Must have a minimum score of 4.5 I IELTS exam

The Manitoba PNP draws work on an Expression of Interest (EOI) basis.

Manitoba PNP In-demand occupations: This is an important aspect of each pathway in Manitoba. This list provides details of in-demand occupations in the province. These are related to specific skilled streams. Applicants must belong to the specific occupation and meet the criteria and requirements for the pathway. Those meeting these conditions will qualify for the draw.

Candidates must meet the criteria and conditions for any of the pathways. During the Expression of Interest draws, candidates who work in a high-demand profession will be given priority. Individuals may be qualified for one of the pathways even though they have no prior experience in one of the mentioned professions in some cases

Alberta PNP

The province of Alberta has over the years become a popular destination for immigrants to settle in Canada under the Provincial Nominee program (PNP). The province offers several job opportunities owing to its impressive economic growth in recent years. The Alberta PNP is known as the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP). This is an economic immigration program which nominates immigration candidates for permanent residence in Canada.

The nominees must have the skills and abilities to fill the job shortage in the province. Individuals nominated under the program can apply for a PR visa together with their spouse and dependent children.

The applications for the AINP are managed by the IRCC. The final decisions on the PR visa are taken by the federal government.

Eligibility requirements for the AINP

• Applicants should have a job offer for full-time and/or permanent employment from an Alberta employer.
• They must have the basic work experience required by the employer to qualify for immigration nomination
• They should have the minimum scores in the language proficiency tests to qualify for a nomination
• They should show an intention to live and work in Alberta
• Applicants should have a legitimate work permit and other associated documents
• They should identify their occupation under any of the NOC categories O, A, and B
• Applicants must submit proof of legal residence in their home country
• Applicants should have a Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) confirmation letter

Steps to apply

Step 1: Read the AINP terms and conditions

Step 2: Review the AINP selection criteria

Step 3: Review the language testing requirements

Step 4: Download the Document Checklist and complete the required forms

Step 5: Mail the application

Alberta Foreign Graduate Start-Up Visa Stream (FGSVS)

In order to help the province of Alberta revive its economy and recover from the loss of jobs and businesses due to the COVID-19 pandemic the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) announced two programs in October 2020.

The first program called the International Graduate Entrepreneur Immigration Stream opened in October itself while the details of the second program the Foreign Graduate Start-Up Visa Stream (FGSVS) was released recently.

The FGSVS is an economic immigration program intended for foreign-educated graduates who are from outside Canada but wish to set up a startup or business in Alberta.

The Foreign Graduate Start-Up Visa Stream (FGSVS) is a partnership between the AINP and two agencies designated by the provincial government- Vancouver-based Empowered Startups and Calgary’s Platform Calgary.

These two agencies will review the business plans of the foreign graduate applicants based on the following criteria:

• The plan should be able to demonstrate a market need or demand
• The business should have the potential to be successful in the market from short-term to medium-term
• The plan should have details of customer acquisition and business development
• The plan should have details of key partnerships and financial plans that will help to fund the development and operation of the start-up.

After finishing the assessment, the designated agency will submit a written report. The applicants have to submit this report along with their application to the program.

Ontario PNP

Ontario is the most populated province in Canada with over 40 percent of Canadians living here.  Canada’s capital city of Ontario is located here. Ontario’s provincial nominee program is called the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP). Immigration candidates with skills and experience receive a provincial nomination through which they can apply for permanent residency in Canada.

The OINP has the following immigration categories:

1. Human Capital Category has two categories – Ontario’s Express Entry streams and the International Graduates streams.

Eligibility requirements

Express entry stream- Candidate must have received notification of interest from Ontario and have an updated profile.

International graduate stream- To qualify in either of its two streams- Masters Graduate or PhD Graduate streams- the candidate must have a degree from an eligible Ontario university and apply within two years of getting the degree.

2. Employer Job Offer Category- three streams

1. Foreign Worker stream
2. International Student stream
3. In-Demand Skills stream

Eligibility requirements

Full-time and permanent job offer from an employer in Ontario.

The General Category, also known as the Employer Category or the International Skilled Workers with a Job Offer Stream, allows Ontario employers to hire foreign workers for skilled positions that have been approved (NOC Skill Type 0 or Skill Level A or B). These workers may be based in Canada or abroad at the time of application.

Both the employer and the foreign national must request an application in this category to demonstrate that the eligibility criteria have been met. To have the vacancy they want to fill accepted, employers must first send a Pre-screen Application to the OINP. If this application is accepted, the employer must then send a Nominee Application to the OINP for the foreign worker they choose to hire.

Applicants who choose to work as a foreign worker under the OINP General Category must meet the following requirements:

Have at least two years (24 months) of paid and verifiable work experience in their intended occupation, either in Canada or abroad, during the previous five years OR have the requisite Ontario registration if applying for a regulated occupation in the province.

Have a permanent, full-time employment offer from an employer who is also submitting an application in a professional occupation (NOC levels 0, A, or B); and must be living abroad OR residing, employed, or visiting Canada on a valid work permit, study permit, or visitor record.

3. Business Category

Eligibility requirements

Candidate must be an entrepreneur from outside Canada looking to implement a new business idea or buy an existing business in Ontario.

Steps to apply

There are three main steps to follow when applying for OINP:

1. Ensure that you qualify

After selecting the stream, you want to apply under, ensure you fulfill all the mandatory requirements for the stream.

2. Apply for nomination by the Ontario government

Apply online, through the OINP e-Filing Portal, this will take two to three hours.

3. Apply to the Government of Canada for permanent residence

If your application is successful and you are nominated by the province, you can apply for your permanent residence through IRCC.

New Brunswick PNP

New Brunswick is a maritime province in Canada. It is the only officially bilingual province in Canada, with around 30 percent of the population speaking French as a first language. New Brunswick’s Provincial Nominee Program or the NBPNP targets prospective immigrants who have the required skills and experience.

The NBPNP has the following streams for different immigration categories:

• Express Entry Labor Market Stream
• Skilled Workers with Employer Support
• Post-Graduate Entrepreneurial Stream
• Entrepreneurial Stream
• Skilled Workers with Family Support
• Succession Connect pilot program

New Brunswick is also one of the four participating Atlantic provinces working with the Government of Canada in the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program (AIPP).

 Eligibility requirements for the NBPNP

• Candidate must be between 22 and 55
• Have the required language proficiency and have language test result not less than two years old as proof
• Must have completed the ECA
• If applying for a provincial nomination under an occupation, applicant must have a valid job offer from a New Brunswick employer
• Have at least 12 months of full time or part time work experience in the province three years before making the application
• Must sign a commitment to live and work in the province
• Show proof of having enough funds to support themselves and their families

Steps to apply for NBPNP

• Determine your eligibility
• Apply for the most promising New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program Stream
• Get your ECA done
• Complete the language proficiency tests
• Submit your application
• Receive your provincial nomination certificate

Express Entry stream of the New Brunswick PNP or NBPNP

This stream is called the New Brunswick Express Entry Labour Market Stream. Candidates who receive an enhanced provincial nomination from this stream receive an additional 600 CRS points, resulting in an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence being given at a later draw from the Express Entry pool.

The New Brunswick Express Entry Labor Market Stream (NB-EELMS) uses the ‘Expression of Interest’ (EOI) model. Candidates should fill out an EOI form and send it to the NBPNP from the first to the fifteenth of each month. Candidates are given a score based on the information they provide, and then they are evaluated based on a number of other factors.

The top-ranked candidates are invited by e-mail to apply to the NBPNP. If nominated, NBPNP applicants will be processed via the federal government’s Express Entry electronic immigration management system, which will try to process applications in six months.

Nova Scotia PNP

Nova Scotia is a highly-favored province by immigrants because it favors highly skilled workers.

The Nova Scotia PNP allows applicants to qualify under a range of skilled occupations. Apart from these entrepreneurs, international graduates and temporary foreign works can use the PNP of this province to settle down in Canada.

The Nova Scotia Immigration Program is aligned with the Express Entry system. Candidates with an active Express Entry profile are eligible to apply for this program. Nova Scotia’s PNP offers two categories.

Category A which requires candidates to have a job offer from an employer in the province. This could be a challenge for applicants from outside Canada.

Category B does not have such a condition. The candidates are only required to have experience in any of the in-demand occupations in the province.

 Here are the eligibility requirements to apply under the two categories:

 Eligibility requirements to apply under Category A

Applicant must register his profile with the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s Express Entry system

• He must score a minimum of 67 points or more in the eligibility criteria
• He must have a job offer from a Nova Scotia employer for full-time work with a validity of at least one year after your PR visa is issued
• He must have at least one year of skilled work experience related to the job
• He must have completed education equivalent to Canadian high school credentials
• He must prove his proficiency in either English or French based on the Canadian Language Benchmark
• He must have financial resources to help him settle in the province

Eligibility requirements to apply under Category B

Applicant must be in one of the target occupations as identified in the Nova Scotia Demand: Express Entry guide

Applicant must register his profile with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s Express Entry system

• A minimum of 67 points or more in the eligibility criteria
• Have at least 1 year of skilled work experience in one of the province’s target occupations
• Must have completed education equivalent to Canadian high school credentials
• Prove proficiency in either English or French based on the Canadian Language Benchmark
• Have financial resources to help him settle in the province

Application process

• Apply in Nova Scotia
• Fulfil the requirements and submit the complete application
• Obtain a nomination from the province
• Receive the nomination certificate
• Apply for Canada PR Visa with IRCC

Different streams under the Nova Scotia Provincial Nominee Program

Here are details of the different immigration streams under the Nova Scotia PNP

Nova Scotia demand: Express Entry: This stream is for highly skilled candidates with a valid Express Entry profile. NSNP will use this stream to search the federal government’s express entry pool for candidates who meet the requisite qualifications.

Nova Scotia Experience: Express Entry: This program is similar to the federal Express Entry program, which requires express entry candidates to apply for provincial nomination. Candidates must have a minimum of one year of work experience in a skilled occupation in the province to be eligible for this stream.

Nova Scotia: Skilled Worker: Employers in the province should use this stream to find foreign employees and international graduates with the skills they need. In order to apply for PR under this program, the skilled worker must have a job offer from an eligible employer.

Nova Scotia Physicians: This program is for skilled immigrants who have received a job offer from a health-care organization in the province.

Nova Scotia Entrepreneur: This stream allows experienced businessmen from all over the world to immigrate to Nova Scotia to start their own company or purchase an existing one. They are nominated for permanent resident status after operating the company for a period of one year.

Nova Scotia International Graduate Entrepreneur: This stream is for recent foreign graduates from the province’s educational institutions who have started or owned a company in the province for at least one year.

Nova Scotia Labour Market Priorities: This stream is designed to attract skilled express entry candidates with work experience in a high-demand occupation in the province.

Nova Scotia Occupations In-Demand: This stream is for immigrants who have job offers from eligible provincial employers in a high-demand occupation. Applicants with experience as nurse assistants, orderlies, and patient service associates (NOC Code 3413) OR transport truck drivers are eligible for this stream (NOC Code 7511).

Prince Edward Island PNP

Prince Edward Island’s Provincial Nominee Program also known as the PEI PNP provides prospective immigrants with experience and skills opportunities to apply for the Prince Edward Island Provincial Nomination Certificate after which they can apply for the Canadian permanent residence.

The PEI PNP offers three major immigration categories:

• PEI PNP Express Entry
• Labor Impact Category
• Business Impact Category

PEI PNP Express Entry

Under this category, candidates who are eligible under the Express Entry pool and are interested to live in the province can apply. However only those candidates who have skills that match the labor needs of the province will be considered for nomination under this category.

Application process

Step 1: After a full application and all supporting documents have been submitted, the processing period for qualifying applications will take up to three months or longer.

Step 2: Within six months of obtaining your candidate certificate, apply for a permanent resident visa for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC, formerly CIC). Applicants, their spouse/common-law partner, and their children.

For eligible foreign nationals, the PEI PNP Express Entry combination makes immigration to the province both quicker and easier. When using Canada Express Entry, the entire PEI immigration process could take as little as six months in some cases.

Labor Impact Category

Immigration candidates who have the required skills and experience to meet the needs of the labor market in the province. The stream has three categories:

1.Skilled Worker Stream: This stream is for workers who have been selected or identified by an employer in the province. To be eligible to apply under this stream, the applicant must be either working in the province or have a job offer from an employee in the province.

2.Critical Worker Stream: This stream is applicable to workers who have been hired by an employer in the province and the employer wishes to sponsor them for a PR visa. The applicants can belong to either a semi-skilled or unskilled profession.

3.International Graduate Stream: Recent graduates from recognized universities and colleges in the province who have already been hired by a PEI employer. Eligible applicants will have to work in a skilled profession related to their field of study.

Business Impact Category

This category has a single stream called the Work Permit Stream. This stream is for individuals who want to invest in a business in the province.

Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program

Prince Edward Island is also one of four provinces included in the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program (AIPP).

British Columbia PNP

The British Columbia (BC) PNP is a pathway for permanent residence for highly skilled workers, in-demand workers, and entrepreneurs. This program is operated by the province’s government in collaboration with the federal immigration department and the IRCC.  The province gets a limited number of nominations each year.

 The BC PNP accepts applications under three major categories:

1. Skills Immigration
2. Express Entry BC
3. Entrepreneur Immigration

Each category has its individual streams.

Here are more details about each stream

1. Skills immigration: This stream is targeted at skilled and semi-skilled workers required for high-demand occupations in the province and further divided into five categories.

• Skilled Worker Category
• Healthcare Professional Category
• International Graduate Category
• International Post-Graduate Category
• Entry Level and Semi-Skilled Worker Category

Invitations under this stream are issued based on points. Some of the categories do not need prior work experience. Skilled workers require work experience while the entry-level and semi-skilled category of workers need to have some work experience in the province. Recent international graduates from a Canadian university or college do not need any prior work experience.

2. Express Entry BC: This stream provides a faster way for skilled workers to move to the province. To qualify for this stream, you must be eligible under a federal economic immigration program. Applicants must complete their Express Entry profile and meet the eligibility requirements in any one of the following immigration programs under Express Entry:

• Federal Skilled Worker Program
• Federal Skilled Trades Program
• Canadian Experience Class

If applicants meet the minimum eligibility requirements under any of the above programs, they will get their Express Entry profile number.

The invitations are given provided applicants qualify under a points-based system. The eligibility requirements under this stream are similar to the Express Entry stream which includes relevant work experience, language and education requirements.

3. Entrepreneur Immigration:  This program consists of three streams.

• Entrepreneur Immigration Category
• Entrepreneur Immigration — Regional Pilot
• Strategic Projects Category

Entrepreneur immigration category: This stream is for entrepreneurs who wish to set up a business in the province. The invitation under this system is also points-based. The applicants must have the required funds to invest in a business. They will be eligible for PR under the entrepreneur immigration stream.

Entrepreneur immigration regional pilot stream: This is for investors wishing to start a new business in the regional communities across the province.

Strategic projects category: Under this category foreign based companies can set up their operations in the province. Five foreign professionals who can work for the business can be nominated for PR in the province under this scheme.

Eligibility requirements for the BC Entrepreneur program

Individuals must meet the following requirements in order to register:

• Have a basic English or French language ability of level 4 or higher on the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB).
• Have been properly admitted to the nation in which they now reside
• Having a personal net worth of at least $600,000 is required. Personal net worth must be obtained in a legal and verifiable manner. The candidate is required to disclose his personal net worth
• Have spent at least three years as an active business owner-manager OR four years as a senior manager OR a combination of at least one year as an active business owner-manager AND at least two years as a senior management (in the previous ten years)
• Have a post-secondary degree OR have spent at least three of the previous five years as an active business owner-manager with 100% control of the company. The candidate, his or her spouse or common-law partner, and/or his or her dependent child(ren) may all hold a portion of the business

Within 610 days (approximately 20 months) of arriving in B.C. on a BC PNP-supported work permit, demonstrate an eligible personal investment of at least $200,000 in the proposed business

Demonstrate that the business will create at least one permanent, new full-time equivalent job for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada within 365 days (12 months) of the arrival date.

Entrepreneur immigration category: This stream is for entrepreneurs who wish to set up a business in the province. The invitation under this system is also points-based. The applicants must have the required funds to invest in a business. They will be eligible for PR under the entrepreneur immigration stream.

Eligibility requirements

• A personal net worth of at least $600,000 that has been legitimately acquired.
• Invest a minimum of $200,000 in a new or existing business in British Columbia that meets the criteria.
• Create at least one new full-time position for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident in your company.
• Level 4 of the Canadian Language Benchmark In each of the four competencies: hearing, speaking, reading, and writing, in either English or French.
• Experience in business and/or management.
• Have lawful temporary immigration status in Canada, or be eligible for it.

Entrepreneur immigration regional pilot stream: This is for investors wishing to start a new business in the regional communities across the province.

Eligibility requirements

• A minimum net worth of $300,000 is required.
• A minimum of $100,000 in qualified business investments is required.
• A minimum of 51 percent ownership in the new company is required.
• Level 4 of the Canadian Language Benchmark In each of the four competencies: hearing, speaking, reading, and writing, in either English or French.
• At least one full-time employment for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident must be created.
• Visit the target community for an exploratory visit.

Eligibility requirements for communities

• Have a population of less than 75,000 people, it is a small town.
• Must be within 30 kilometers of a municipality with a population of more than 75,000 inhabitants.
• Demonstrate a network of existing settlement and business support agencies to assist the entrepreneur.
• Strategic Projects Category: Under this category foreign based companies can set up their operations in the province. Five foreign professionals who can work for the business can be nominated for PR in the province under this scheme.

Eligibility requirements

Make a $500,000 minimum equity investment.

For each foreign essential staff member recommended, create at least three new employment for Canadian citizens or permanent residents (to a maximum of five key staff).

Start a business or buy an existing one and expand it in BC.

Eligibility requirements for the BC PNP Strategic Occupations Stream

Must have a work offer from a British Columbia employer that cannot be filled by a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, and must be one of the two. Applicants applying under the International Postgraduate category are an exception.

• English or French fluency is required.
• Meet the minimal income criterion in British Columbia.
• An applicant will file under one of four categories under the Skills Immigration Category.
• Applicants must have an Express Entry profile.

A Skilled Worker

• Applicant must have a job offer in skill type 0, A, and B of NOC

A Healthcare Professional

• Physicians, registered nurses, registered psychiatric nurses and midwives

An International Graduate

This is for students who have completed high school in Canada and wish to apply to the BC PNP program.

 International Post-Graduate

This is for students who have received a Master’s or Doctoral degree from a British Columbian institution.

A Semi-Skilled Worker in select tourism/hospitality occupations, and food processing occupations

Even if they have not received a job offer from a BC employer, international students who have received a master’s or doctorate degree in the natural, applied, or health sciences from accredited, recognized BC universities within the last two years are eligible to apply.

British Columbia Tech Pilot program

The BC PNP Tech Pilot is an initiative under the BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) to support the tech sector in recruiting top international talent.

• Invitations to apply (ITA) are sent out weekly to interested candidates employed in one of 29 qualifying tech occupations in British Columbia (applicants still need to register with the BC PNP)
• Employers with technology may use a dedicated concierge program
• Production of tech applications is given first priority
• Engagement and outreach to the tech industry with a particular target in mind
• Job offer period has some wiggle room

Application process

Applicants to the BC PNP must follow a two-stage process, they must first apply for a nomination to the provincial government and if they are nominated, they must next apply for permanent residence to the federal government.

Differences between the various PNP programs

Some PNP Canada streams are aligned with the Express Entry system, while some are not aligned to the EE system.

Some PNP programs require applicants to have a job offer, while others do not.

Applicants can apply directly to some PNP streams while others issue invitations on an Expression of Interest (EOI) basis, where applicants must first get an ITA before submitting their application.

Need for PNP:

More than 80 percent of migrants prefer to settle down in the big cities and municipalities. Provinces are looking at steering immigrants away from the big cities to settle in provinces to promote development in smaller cities and municipalities and contribute to their economic development. Many provinces and territories recently introduced regional PNP streams to encourage migrants to move to regional areas.

Provinces look for immigrants who can contribute to the economic growth of the province and are ready to settle down in the province. The provinces look for the following conditions when selecting candidates:

• A job offer in the province
• Work experience in important industries
• English or French language skills
• Presence of close relations in the province
• Ability to adapt to lifestyle in the province

How do I qualify for a PR visa through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)?

If you feel that you may not get the required points for a PR visa under the Express Entry program, you can consider the Provincial Nominee Program. There are two ways to use the PNP program to get your PR visa.

1. If any province requires a profile like yours, they can select your profile for nomination and send you an invitation to apply for a PR visa.
2. If you want to settle in a specific Canadian province, you can directly apply to that province.
3. If you meet the requirements you will receive a nomination from the province. You can apply for permanent residency after you receive the nomination form.

Another advantage of using the PNP program is you can include the points you scored in the Express Entry Program if you applied for a PR visa under that program earlier. These points will be added to your PNP profile.

A step-by-step method to apply for the Provincial Nominee Program

• Identify the right PNP: You will first have to identify the province you want to migrate to, then you should the PNP streams that you qualify for by checking the requirements of that province.
• Apply to the PNP you have chosen: Apply directly to that particular province.
• Get Provincial Nomination certificate: If your application qualifies, the province or territory will give you a provincial nomination to apply for Canadian permanent residence.
• Submit your PR application: The next step is to apply to the Canadian federal government for your PR visa. For Express Entry linked PNPS, you can submit your application online but for others, you will have to go for a paper-based application.

Application process

1. Find out your eligibility: Use the PNP Live Tracker to track available PNPs and determine your eligibility for the many options available.

2. Complete a Provincial Nominee Program application: Submit your application to the province or territory.

3. Submit your Provincial Nomination Certificate: If your application is complete and you are eligible, you will receive an official Provincial nomination Certificate which will allow you to go on to the next level.

It’s a two-step process to apply for Canadian permanent residence through a PNP program. You must apply to the province first. After it is approved, you must then submit your application to the federal government. Canadian PR can only be given to you by the federal government. The processing time varies between provinces, but it usually takes a few months for the processing of the application.

Submit your application for permanent residence: Apply to the federal government for permanent resident status in Canada. If you have been nominated via an Express Entry PNP, you can apply through the Express Entry stream.

Processing time for PNP programs

Processing times for Canada’s Provincial Nominee Programs depend primarily on whether or not the application was submitted under an Express Entry-linked PNP stream, or one of the other non-Express Entry streams.

Applicants should expect a waiting period for the initial application to the province, plus an additional processing time for the federal government ‘s final application for permanent residence.

Many provinces brought down their processing times to a couple of months or even weeks. For applications that are connected to Express Entry, the federal processing period remains six months for most applications. Non-Express Related Applications, also known as paper-based applications, typically take 1-2 years to process.

Canada Business Immigration Program:

Individuals interested in doing business in Canada can apply for a PR visa through the Canada Business Immigration Program. This program was designed to encourage migrants who can invest or establish a business in Canada. They must be high net worth individuals or must have either business or managerial experience to establish and run a business in Canada. The Canadian government has specified three categories of people for this type of visa.

• Investors
• Entrepreneurs
• Self Employed Persons

Family Class Immigration:

Spousal sponsorship program

If you have moved to Canada and wish to bring your spouse to the country, you can apply for a spousal sponsorship for this purpose.

You can sponsor your spouse, common law partner or conjugal partner under this sponsorship program.

 Eligibility requirements for spousal sponsorship program:

You can sponsor your spouse or partner if you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and are at least 18 years old.

You must be living in Canada or plan to return to the country once your spouse or partner gets permanent residence.

You must be able to meet the basic financial needs of your spouse or partner for three years once they enter the country.

Proof of relationship

If you are looking to sponsor your spouse, you must provide the following documents as proof of your relationship:

• Marriage certificate from the government
• Completed relationship Information and Sponsorship Evaluation questionnaire
• Invitations and photos of your marriage
• Birth certificates or adoption records of your children with your spouse or partner
• Proof of registration of marriage
• Proof that you and your spouse are joint owners of property
• Proof of shared bank accounts

Categories you can apply under for spousal sponsorship

When your spouse is outside Canada you should apply under the Family Class (outland) category. But you cannot live with your spouse till your sponsorship application is approved. But your spouse can come to the country on a temporary visa while the sponsorship application is being sponsored.

You can sponsor your spouse or partner even if they are living in Canada, provided you are holding a valid immigration status or have applied for an open work permit to work in Canada while the application is being processed. But as an applicant you should avoid travel outside Canada while your application is being processed.

 Processing time for spousal sponsorship applications

The average processing time for spousal sponsorship programs is around 12 months.

However, this depends on factors such as submission of the complete documents, proof of relationship documents and the number of applications with the immigration department.

Individuals who are permanent residents or citizens of Canada can sponsor their family members for PR status if they are 18 years or older. They are eligible to sponsor the following categories of family members:

• Spouse
• Conjugal partner
• Common-law partner
• Dependent or adopted children
• Parents
• Grandparents

Eligibility requirements for a sponsor:

Apart from being above 18 years and being a PR visa holder or Canadian citizen, a sponsor must:

• Provide proof that he/she has the financial support to support family members or dependents
• With the government’s approval, he/she must agree to support the family members being sponsored for a certain amount of time
• Must be residing in Canada or have the intention to live in the country during the arrival of the sponsored relative
• Must not be bankrupt
• Must not be charged with any criminal offense
• Must not be under a removal order if he/she is a Permanent Resident

When a relative arrives in Canada, the sponsor assumes all financial responsibility

In order to be a sponsor, the permanent resident or citizen must:

• Sign a sponsorship agreement with the relative in which he promises to provide him with financial assistance, if necessary.
• Provide financial assistance to a spouse, common-law or conjugal partner for a period of three years from the date of permanent residence of the spouse.
• Provide a dependent child with financial assistance for 10 years, or until the child turns 25, whichever comes first.

The Canada Dependent Visa enables you to bring your dependents to Canada and allows them to work or study full-time if they have the required permits. You can sponsor the following relatives for a dependent visa under the Canada Dependent Visa:

• Spouse or common-law partner or conjugal partner
• Dependent children under the age of 21
• Dependent parents or grandparents
• Child adopted outside Canada while you held a Canadian citizenship or PR
• Brother, sister, niece, nephew, uncle, aunt or other close relatives
• The relations you sponsor can live with you in Canada.
• Your spouse or conjugal partner can also apply for a Work Permit in order to work in Canada

Eligibility requirements to sponsor a dependent

• You must be at least 18 years old.
• You must be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada.
• You should not be seeking government assistance except for a disability.
• You must meet the low-income threshold
• You must be legally married to your spouse
• You must have a genuine relationship with your dependents

Eligibility requirements to sponsor a spouse

• You must be at least 18 years old.
• You must live in Canada or expect to return once your spouse or partner becomes a permanent resident
• You must be able and willing to meet your spouse’s or partner’s basic financial needs for the next three years
• Your partner must be a member of the family class, otherwise you will not be able to sponsor them. You must be a citizen, permanent resident, or have a work permit to sponsor your spouse.
• You must have a genuine relationship with your spouse which was not entered into just for the permanent resident status. The duration of your relationship must be at least a year old.

Child visa to bring dependent children to Canada

Sponsors may bring their children to Canada on a dependent visa:

• When a child is adopted outside of Canada when the sponsor is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
• The applicant intends to adopt a child in Canada.
• If the sponsor’s brother or sister, nephew or niece, grandson or granddaughter is an orphan and meets the eligibility requirements, they will be considered for sponsorship.

Eligibility conditions to sponsor a child

• The child must be under the age of 22 and have no spouse, common-law wife, or conjugal partner.
• The sponsor’s dependent child must be his biological or adopted child.
• The child must demonstrate that he is financially dependent on the sponsor/parent.
• There is no age limit for dependent children who are unable to support themselves due to a physical or mental illness.
• The sponsor must provide evidence of his relationship with the children who are financially dependent on him.
• Dependent children must undergo a medical test to have evidence that they are not involved in any criminal cases.
• The medical examination must be done by a physician appointed by the Canadian government.

Canadian Experience Class

The Canadian Experience Class or CEC program is aimed to help foreign workers or students who are staying on a temporary basis in Canada to become permanent residents. It considers their work experience or education and their contribution to Canadian society for granting PR status.

You can qualify for this visa if you have studied or worked in Canada and meet the minimum requirements. The other important eligibility requirements are:

• 12 months of work experience- either full-time or part-time in the past three years
• Work experience must have proper authorization
• Applicant must have plans to live in a province outside Quebec
• Meet the language proficiency requirements

Eligibility conditions

Applicants for the CEC program must have gained at least one year of skilled, professional, or technical employment experience in Canada within 36 months of the application date.

For NOC B occupations, they must achieve or exceed a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) of 5 (“beginning intermediate”), or CLB 7 (“sufficient intermediate proficiency”) for NOC skill levels 0 and A jobs.

Applicants must plan to live and work outside of Quebec’s borders.

Individuals having job experience in Quebec and plans to live in Quebec are eligible to apply for the Quebec Experience Class.

In Canada, one year of work experience (or 12 months) is defined as at least 1,560 hours of skilled employment. Full-time and/or part-time work can be used to complete the 1,560 hours.

Applicants are allowed to stay in Canada for the duration of the application procedure. Individuals who are no longer in Canada can apply for the Canadian Experience Class as long as they submit their application within three years after leaving their position in Canada.

The candidate is qualified to enter the Express Entry pool if the minimum conditions are met.

The candidate is not required to submit proof of funds if he is able to successfully obtain an immigration invitation under the CEC.

Canadian work experience for PR visa

The reason Canadian experience in federal and provincial immigration programs has become so relevant is that Canadian government research indicates that such experience is a good predictor that an immigration candidate can easily integrate into the Canadian labor market and perform well in the long term.

For a variety of reasons Canadian work experience is the key. It helps migrant applicants develop their language skills, which is a major component of the Comprehensive Ranking System. Additionally, applicants who obtain Canadian work experience or education can show Canadian employers that they have the expertise and knowledge that employers are searching for.

Even though Canadian work experience may not be superior to the work experience or education gained outside Canada, employers in Canada would prefer to hire someone with local experience.

Intra company transfer

Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) is for employees who work for a company with a qualifying relationship with a Canadian firm, such as a subsidiary, affiliate, parent, or branch. Employers in Canada do not need an LMIA to hire employees through this scheme.

The foreign worker must have worked for the company for a minimum of one year. He must have either worked in a managerial role or show that they have advanced and proprietary knowledge of the business or its products.

Gaining a work permit in Canada will help the individual gain work experience in Canada which will work to their advantage when they apply for permanent residence.

Another advantage of this work permit is that the applicants for this work permit need not apply for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (“LMIA”) before making their application. This is good because getting the LMIA can be a difficult process and the opportunity to do away with this step is good news for employers and the Intra company transfer applicants.

Spousal Open Work Permit for Intra Company transferee work permit holders

For Intra-Company Transferee Work Permit holders who wish to bring their families to Canada, they can apply for a Spousal Open Work Permit and if they have dependent children (age 21 and under), they can either apply for Visitor Records or Study Permits based on their age so that they can accompany their family member to Canada.

With the spousal work permit, the spouse or partner is eligible to work for any employer during the validity period of the work permit.

The Intra-Company Transferee Work Permits will be valid for a maximum period of 3 years, and can be extended up to seven years. with the possibility of extending the Work Permit in 2-year increments, up to a maximum of 7 years.

Way to permanent residency

The Intra-Company Transferee Work Permit holder can come to Canada on a temporary basis and then apply for a PR visa under any of the various pathways and improve their chances based on their Canadian work experience.

Since the intra-company transfer allows one to stay in Canada for a maximum of 3 years, it is possible to apply for a PR visa after 12 months in Canada as a temporary worker.

Federal Skilled Trades Program

The Federal Skilled Trades Program or FSTP is one of the three programs in the Express Entry System which helps international skilled workers to secure a job and permanent residence in Canada.

Skilled workers in various occupations can submit their profiles to the FSTP and incur a chance to get an invitation to apply or ITA for a visa. The selection is based on a lottery system, but the chances of selection are high because Canada has a labor shortage in different occupations.

The government of Canada releases a list of skilled trades that are facing a shortage of labor on a regular basis. Based on this list international workers and those on a temporary work permit can apply in the FSTP to see if they have a chance to be selected.

The list of skilled trades is based on Canada’s National Occupational Classification (NOC) list. If you get your permanent resident visa through the Federal Skilled Trades Program, you will be eligible to live and work in Canada and can become a Canadian citizen after a few years.

Eligibility requirements

• Must have an employment offer from two employers in Canada who have agreed to an employment term of at least one year or you must have a Certificate of Qualification from a provincial or territorial body
• Must have work experience in a skilled trade for at least two years in a full-time or part-time job
• Must meet or exceed the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) ranking or required language levels in English or French needed for the job by taking the relevant tests
• Applicant must demonstrate his ability to meet the job requirements of the skilled trade as per NOC requirements

Documents required

• Current passport and travel history
• Proof of language proficiency
• Police clearance certificate
• Other supporting documents

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada published a list of eligible trades under the National Occupational Classification (NOC):

1. Major groups:

• § 72 – industrial, electrical, and construction trades,
• § 73 – maintenance and equipment operation trades
• § 82 – supervisors and technical jobs in natural resources, agriculture, and related production
• § 92 – processing, manufacturing, and utilities supervisors and central control operators

2. Minor groups:

• § 632 – chefs and cooks
• § 633 – butchers and bakers

Quebec Skilled Worker Program (QSWP)

Quebec has its own Provincial Nominee Program known as the Quebec Skilled Worker Program (QSWP). This is an immigration program that provides a fast and convenient way to migrate to Canada.

This immigration program started with the goal of attracting more immigrants to come and settle in Quebec without the necessity of going through a lengthy immigration process.

Through this program, skilled workers can apply for the Quebec Selection Certificate or Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ). It is not necessary for applicants to have a valid job offer in order to migrate to Quebec. However, those with a job offer are given higher priority.

The QSWP is also based on a points-based system like the Express Entry System.

The application process involves just two steps:

Step 1: Send in the completed application form along with the documents required. The Immigration authorities will then verify your documents.

Step 2: You will be issued a CSQ by the immigration authorities which allows you to migrate to and remain in Quebec for 3 months. You can apply for a PR Visa after this period.

What are the documents required for the PR application process?

• Valid passport
• Proof of age
• Identity proof
• Certificates to support your educational qualifications
• IELTS scorecard with the valid score
• Certificates to prove medical fitness
• Police clearance certificate

Arrima portal

In order to simplify the application process for the Quebec Skilled Worker Program (QSWP) and provide a level playing field for all foreign nationals, Quebec’s immigration system introduced Arrima. This is a portal designed to manage Quebec’s Expression of Interest (EOI) system that has replaced its previous first-come first served intake model.

Anyone who is interested in migrating to Quebec under the QSW program can use the Arrima portal. They can file their EOI through the portal. If you meet the needs of the province’s labor market, you will be issued an Invitation to Apply or ITA. Your application will then be evaluated based on criteria described in the selection grid.

For more information, read…

65 occupations added to fill vacant jobs in Quebec

Like the Express Entry System, applicants are awarded points if they fulfil the various criteria under the selection grid, this includes:

• Level of education or professional training
• Age
• Work experience
• Your proficiency in French and English
• Your previous visits and short-term stays in Quebec
• Number of children under the age of 22 who will be accompanying you to Quebec
• Your financial assets and ability to support yourself and your family for the first three months after your arrival
• Your relationship with Canadian citizens or permanent residents existing in Quebec
• If you have a spouse coming with you to Quebec, then they will be evaluated based on factors such as age, education, and language proficiency which can add to your score
• Validated job offer or an offer of employment form a Quebec employer

The points you score in the selection grid will indicate your eligibility for immigration to Quebec. If you score the required points and meet the needs of the province’s labor market, you will be issued an Invitation to Apply or ITA through the Arrima portal. The priority order for sending the ITAs are:

• Immigration candidates who applied for a Quebec Selection Certificate before August 2, 2018
• Individuals with a validated job offer from a Quebec employer

You will then have to submit your application for the Quebec selection certificate within 60 days of receiving the ITA. Once you receive your certificate you can apply for your PR visa.

Anyone can submit an EOI to migrate to Quebec through the portal to try their chance.

However, you will greatly improve your chances of getting an ITA if you have a validated job offer. If you have a job offer from a Quebec employer, you will have a significant addition to the number of points in your application. The job offer must be validated by the Quebec Ministère d’immigration, francisation et intégration (MIFI).

The introduction of the Arrima portal has no doubt simplified the application process for the QSW program of the Quebec province. But on the flipside, it has increased the number of applications. This makes it even more important for you to try and score more points to get your ITA and successfully migrate to Canada.

Self-Employed Persons Program

The Canadian Self-Employed Persons Program (SEPP) is specifically designed for applicants who intend and have the ability to become self-employed in Canada. There is a separate self-employed program for Quebec.

Required qualifications for SEPP: Candidates must have the experience and ability to:

• Make a major contribution as artisans or as athletes at an international level to the cultural or sporting life in Canada
• Buy a farm in Canada and handle it

Relevant Experience is defined as:

• At least two years of participation in cultural activities or athletics at a world-class level
• At least two years of experience of self-employment in cultural activities of athletics
• At least two years of experience in farm management

Selection factors
Once applicants have been classified as meeting the concept of ‘self-employed individuals,’ they will then be evaluated on the basis of the selection criteria set out in the table below. If they want to immigrate to Canada as a self-employed citizen, applicants must receive a minimum of 35 points out of 100 potential points.

Other requirements

The applicant and the applicant’s immediate family members must, like most other Canadian immigration systems, undergo medical evaluations and safety tests, as well as be able to show that they will have adequate settlement funds to support themselves and their families once they arrive in Canada.

Qualifying for an ITA under the SEPP

When you apply for the program, you’ll need to meet the criteria mentioned above in order to receive points under the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). These points are then added to create a score for your online profile which will be created on your application. This cumulative score competes against other scores till there is a draw from the pool of applicants. These applicants will get an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residency in Canada. It’s important to remember that your score can change if you get new recommendations, talents, or skills.

Quebec self-employed program

The Quebec self-employed program is designed for applicants who wish to immigrate to Quebec by generating their own employment in Quebec.

In order to qualify for the program, the applicant must have:

• Two years of experience in the occupation they wish to pursue which can include but need not be limited to athletics, cultural activities, or farm management.
• Should have a minimum net worth of 10,000 dollars of legally acquired funds of which the spouse’s funds can also be included
• Should have the intention and ability to create their own employment by pursuing an occupation where they have experience.

What are the steps to apply for a Canadian PR visa?

Once you have decided on the immigration program through which you are applying for a PR visa and gathered the required documents, follow these steps in your application:

Note: If you have applied through the Express Entry program, you will have to apply within 90 days if you get an invitation to apply.

Step1: Complete your language ability tests even before you start the application process. Take the IELTS exam and get the required scores. If required, you might need to take a French-language test.

Step 2: Submit your application based on the requirements of the immigration program you have decided on.

Step 3: Submit all the required documents. Ensure you provide only genuine documents. Remember that the education and work experience documents require authentication.

Step 4: Gather the required documents for proof of funds to support your stay in Canada. Get your medical checkup and police verification records ready.

Step 5: Your documents will go through a mandatory examination by an immigration officer. Be prepared to provide any additional information if required.

Step 6: You will receive confirmation of your PR status and will receive a COPR (Confirmation of Permanent Residence) card.

Step 7: Apply for your PR card

The general processing time for the PR visa is 5 to 8 months. However, the processing time depends on the program under which you made an application. For instance, if you applied under the CEC program your application will be processed within three to four months.

Getting your ECA

An important step while applying for your Canada PR visa is to apply for the Educational Credential Assessment or the ECA which is required if you have done your education outside Canada. The ECA report will show that your educational credentials are equal to Canadian secondary school credential or post-secondary educational credential.

The ECA is required if you are applying for a visa through the Express Entry program to prove that your foreign education degree or credential is valid and is equal to a Canadian degree.

The following categories of PR applicants need to get an ECA

• Applicants who have completed their education outside Canada and are applying for PR visa under the Federal Skilled Workers Program
• Applicants who need to earn points for education received outside Canada.
• Applicants whose spouse or partner is coming with them to Canada and who need to get an ECA for them as well in order to earn points for their education in the PR visa application.
• An ECA is usually required for your highest level of education, for example if you have a master’s degree, you will need an ECA for only that and not for your bachelor’s degree. However, if you have two or more credentials you will need an ECA for both if you need credentials from both of them.

You can get your ECA from one of the designated organizations given below:

• World Education Services (Date designated: April 17, 2013)
• Comparative Education Service – University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies (Date designated: April 17, 2013)
• International Credential Assessment Service of Canada (Date designated: April 17, 2013)
• International Qualifications Assessment Service (Date designated: August 6, 2015)
• International Credential Evaluation Service (Date designated: August 6, 2015)
• Medical Council of Canada (professional body for Doctors) (Date designated: April 17, 2013)
• Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (professional body for Pharmacists) (Date designated: January 6, 2014)

The IRCC will only accept assessments that are issued on or after the date the organizations were designated to issue ECA reports for immigration applicants.

You should choose your organization based on your occupation, for instance if you are a Pharmacist (NOC code 3131), and you need a license to practice you must get your report from the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada.

How is the scope for IT workers in Canada?

IT companies in Canada are hiring more number of foreign workers. Check this video for more details.

What are the Canada PR application fees?

To get your Canada PR you will need to pay the PR fees for yourself as the primary applicant, your spouse and the dependents included in the PR application. Here is the breakup of the PR fees:

• Primary applicant – CAD 825 (without right of permanent residence fees)
• Primary applicant – CAD 1,325 (with right of permanent residence fees)
• Spouse – CAD 825 (without right of permanent residence fees)
• Spouse – CAD 1325 (with right of permanent residence fees)
• Child (under 22 years) – CAD 225

Apart from this, you will have to pay for the following parts of your PR application:

• ECA from WES fees- CAD 305 per person
• IELTS test fees-CAD 259 per person
• Medical test fees- CAD 60 per person
• PCC fees-CAD 20 per person

Proof of funds:

Immigration candidates should also provide proof of funds called settlement funds to prove that they have the required funds to support their stay and that of their dependents once they come to Canada till they are able to earn their income in the country. Letters from banks where the money is deposited is required as proof. The settlement funds will vary depending on the number of family members of the primary PR applicant.

Canada PR applicants are required to submit proof that they have enough money to support themselves and their family if they are intending to settle down in Canada. Applicants are exempt from this rule if they:

• Are authorized to work in Canada
• Have a valid job offer from an employer in Canada

The funds should be enough to cover the cost of living for themselves and their family members once they come to Canada. Applicants should submit proof that they have the required funds when they submit their application.

The amount of money required depends on the size of the family of the immigrant. The amounts are revised every year.

Variations in cost:

If you decide to take the services of an immigration consultant to help you in the PR visa process, then you will have to factor in the cost of their services while calculating the cost of your PR visa.

Total cost for a PR visa:

The total cost of your PR visa will be the sum of your application fees for you and your spouse and dependents, fees for medical examination, English language test, ECA fees, PCC fees, etc.

Knowledge of the Canada PR visa process and the expenses involved will give you a good idea of the total costs and the expenses you will need to incur for the visa.

Processing time for Canada PR

The processing time also depends on the type of application or the immigration program you have applied to. The processing times vary based on the number of applications received for each immigration program. Some immigration programs get the same number of applications every month, so the processing time does not vary. Some programs may get more applications in one month and lesser in other months, this causes a variation.

Some other factors that could affect your processing time:

• The time is taken by the immigration department to process your application
• The time is taken to verify the information sent by you
• The response time from your end for any requests for information

Different processing times for different immigration programs

If you have opted for the Express Entry Program to apply for your visa, the average time taken to process your visa will be six months. Your application is placed in the Express Entry pool and it will be ranked in relation to other applications based on your CRS (comprehensive ranking system). If you clear the cut-off, you will get an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for your permanent residency.

The average processing time for the PR visa right from the filing of the application to getting the invitation to apply (ITA) from Canadian authorities is 6 months.

In the other popular immigration program – the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), the process is almost like the Express Entry program. The only difference being the verification process takes a little longer, this can extend the processing time to about 12 months.

For the Quebec skilled Workers Program (QSWP), a provincial immigration program run by the Quebec province, the processing time is between 12-16 months.

The processing time varies for each immigration program because it depends on the number of applications each program receives in a month.  Tor some programs, the number of applications is consistent every month, then there is no variation in the processing time.  For some programs, the number of applications can vary in the year, some programs have specific application times during the year. In such cases the processing time can vary.

The processing time is the period between the day the authorities receive your complete application and the day a decision is made on the application. The immigration authorities estimate the processing time based on the current number of applications that are waiting to be processed and their estimate of how much time it will take to process 80% of these applications.

The other option is they make a historical projection based on how much time it took to process 80% of applications in the past.

Factors that determine processing time

There are certain factors that determine the processing time of your PR visa. They are:

• Submission of the complete application form with all the details and supporting documents
• Provide biometrics if required and within 30 days of receiving a request for the same.
• Payment of the requisite fees using the correct method of payment

Avoid delays

How long does it take to become a permanent resident?

The time it will take to become a permanent resident of Canada indicates the processing time of your PR application.

The processing time of your PR visa depends on the immigration program you have opted for. If you have applied under the Express Entry system, the average time taken to process you visa will be six months. If you have opted for the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), the processing time takes an average of 12 months.

Another popular immigration program is the Quebec skilled Workers Program (QSWP), a provincial program run by the Quebec province. The processing time for this program is between 12-16 months.

Other factors that can impact the processing time include the time taken by the immigration department to process your application, verify the information that you had sent and the time you take to respond to requests for additional information from immigration authorities.

Factors that can delay the processing time

Delay in submission of required documents: Processing of your visa will happen on time provided you submit all the required documents. They should support the information provided in your application. If you take a longer time to collect and submit these documents, then you will only extend the processing time.

You must ensure you submit the complete documentation. The processing will take longer if you get requests for additional documents from the authorities to complete your application.

You must also check for any discrepancies between the information provided in the application and the supporting documents.  Suppose there are discrepancies it will lead to delays in the processing of your visa.

Not providing correct credentials and verification documents: To avoid unnecessary delays in processing, you must ensure you provide every document that validates your personal details, educational details, and work experience. These documents must be original and validated by the issuing institution or the organization. If you have taken the English proficiency tests such as IELTS, ensure you include the scores.

Longer time to submit medical certificates and police verification documents: The processing time can take longer if you take more time to submit your medical and police records with your application. Remember you will have to get these certificates for family members who will be coming with you to Canada.

Other reasons: There could be other reasons for the delay in the processing of your visa application, they can include:

• Your interview by the immigration authorities
• Slow response from your end for any requests for information by the authorities
• Communication through e-mail instead of using an online account
• A high number of applications which extend the processing time

You can ensure that you avoid delays in the processing time by taking care of the following:

• Fill out the application form after reading the application guide for your immigration category
• Ensure that your application includes all the required documents
• Double-check your application before you send it

Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS)

Gaining entry in the Express Entry pool requires that you have the required score in the Comprehensive Ranking System or CRS. The CRS is a merit-based points system where points are given to candidates based on certain factors. Every applicant in the Express Entry system is assigned a CRS score out of 1200 points. The CRS score keeps changing with every Express Entry draw and if the applicant has the required CRS score for that particular draw, then he will get an invitation to apply for a PR visa.

*Check your eligibility for Canada through Y-Axis Canada Immigration Points Calculator instantly for free. 

Factors that determine the CRS core

The CRS score has four important factors. Your profile will be given a score based on these factors.

The CRS score factors include:

• Human capital factors
• Spouse or common-law partner factors
• Skill transferability
• Additional points

Human capital and spouse common law partner factors: You can score a maximum of 500 points under both these factors. Your human capital score will be calculated based on the criteria mentioned above.

Regarding the points you can score under the spouse/common-law partner factor, you can score a maximum of 500 points if your spouse/common-law partner is not coming with you to Canada.  You can score a maximum of 460 points if your spouse is coming with you to Canada.

Skill Transferability: You can gain a maximum of 100 points under this category. The three important factors considered under Skill Transferability include:

Education: A high-level of language proficiency and a post-secondary degree or Canadian work experience combined with a post-secondary degree can give you 50 points.

Work Experience: Foreign work experience combined with high-level language proficiency or Canadian work experience with foreign work experience will give you 50 points.

Canadian qualification: A certificate of qualification with a high level of language proficiency will give you 50 points.

Additional points: It is possible to gain a maximum of 600 points based on various factors. Here is a breakdown of the points.

These are the various criteria under which your CRS score will be calculated for you to qualify for an ITA under the Express Entry category for a Canada PR visa.

Improving your CRS score

If you do not meet the required CRS score you can always find ways to improve your points so that you get the required points to secure an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for the PR visa.

How to improve CRS score in 2022?

You can improve your CRS score and stand out from the lakhs of applicants by following the tips below:

• Improve your IELTS score and get 24 extra points for the French language test.
• Simultaneously apply for any of the Canada PNP programs and get 600 additional points after getting qualified in that.
• Getting a job offer from a Canadian employer will also make you score 200 more points.
• Get 30 points more if you complete your degree or diploma from a recognized Canadian university.
• Applying for a Spouse visa will also make you score some extra points.
• If you have LMIA approved job offer, you can score extra 600 points.

 Here are some ways to improve your CRS score:

Improve your language score: If you score well in language tests such as the IELTS, you will have significant addition to your CRS score. For instance, if you score a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) of 9 in the language test, you will get up to 136 direct points added to your CRS score. You can also add up to 24 points by appearing for a language test in French.

Apply under the Provincial Nominee Program: Applying for a PR visa under the PNP will get you 600 additional points for your Express Entry profile if you get an invitation.

 Get a job offer: A job offer from a Canadian employer will give you 200 additional points.

Get an education in Canada: If you complete a recognized degree or diploma in Canada, you can get up to 30 extra points.

Apply for PR with your spouse:  Applying for the visa with your spouse can give you both additional points. Your spouse’s language proficiency will be worth 20 points, while the level of education and Canadian work experience can amount to 10 points under each category. So, you can get up to 40 points to add to your CRS score.

Get an LMIA approved job offer:  You can add up to 600 points to your CRS score if you secure a job offer that is recognized by the Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), from an employer in Canada.

Continue working: If you have less than three years of full-time work experience, you have the chance to add points to your CRS score if you continue working.

If you have opted for the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), the processing time is like the Express Entry program, but it takes a little longer. The processing time takes an average of 12 months.

For the Quebec skilled Workers Program (QSWP), the average processing time is between 12-16 months.

What a PR visa holder can and cannot do:

Applying for PR visa while on a temporary work permit in Canada

It is possible to come to Canada on a temporary work permit and then apply for permanent residency. There are four ways to do this:

Federal Skilled Worker Program

If you work on a temporary work permit with a Canadian employer and the employer has made an offer to you for permanent jobs, you might be able to apply under the Federal Skilled Worker Program for your permanent residency. Such an offer is called an arranged job. The temporary worker would have to meet the necessary criteria under the Foreign Skilled Worker Program which includes getting an educational credential assessment.

Points are awarded based on factors such as education, age, adaptability, language skills and job offer for the applicant. The process can take up to 12-18 months.

Apart from this, candidates must fulfil the following conditions to qualify for the FSWP:

• Have at least one year of continuous full-time or equivalent paid work experience in the past 10 years in a skilled occupation
• Qualify for Arranged Employment with a Labor Market Impact Assessment and a full-time, permanent job offer from a Canadian employer
• Have completed a PhD in Canada, or have completed two years of study in Canada towards a PhD in a recognized institution
• A foreign educational credential, and an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) by an agency approved by CIC to show it is equal to a completed Canadian secondary or post-secondary educational credential.
• Pass a minimum threshold of language ability for one of Canada’s two official languages (English/French)

Apart from this all applicants must meet the health and security requirements as indicated by the IRCC.

They must show that they have enough money to support themselves and their dependents after arriving in Canada. The funds needed to support the family is determined by the size of the family.

If an applicant meets the eligibility criteria, the application makes it to the Express Entry System after which they will get an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Canadian permanent residence.

Processing Time

The applications for the Federal Skilled Workers Program are usually processed in six months or less.

Processing Fees

The table below outlines the processing fees for the Federal Skilled Worker program:

In addition to the processing fee, the applicant may have to pay additional fees for:

• Medical examination.
• A police clearance certificate, if it is required as part of the crime and security check and.
• Language testing, as required

Canadian Experience Class

Temporary workers in skilled positions can apply under the Canadian Experience Class program using their work experience in Canada. This is a common choice for those temporary workers who are not reaching the points that the federal skilled worker program needs.

Applicants under the CEC must have at least 2 years of work experience in Canada or have a post-secondary degree in Canada or have 1 year of work experience.Applicants who qualify under the CEC must meet at least one of these requirements before applying for their Canadian permanent residency.

Provincial Nominee Program

In general, applicants may apply for permanent residency within a year to a year and a half under the Provincial Nominee Program. Through this program, employers nominate foreign workers for permanent residency but each program may vary across provinces. But thesecandidates need to be highly qualified.

Quebec Experience Class

Temporary staff can apply via the Quebec Experience Class for their permanent residency. The Quebec Experience Class (QEC) is similar to the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), but additional criteria under the QEC are required.

Applicants under the QEC must have served in a professional position in Quebec for a minimum of 1 year and must speak French at an intermediate level.

Owing to its temporary existence, a work permit is often easier to obtain compared to a permanent residency. Although work experience and a legitimate job offer can offer a major advantage when applying for permanent residency, other conditions such as language skills, adequacy of funds, and educational qualifications must be met by the applicant.

A permanent residency application can be strengthened by obtaining a work permit, work experience, and a job offer  only if it satisfies the criteria of the skilled worker program in which the applicant intends to immigrate to Canada.

Reasons for Canada PR visa rejection

1. Misrepresentation: It can be anything from giving incorrect information or giving misleading information. You may have provided incomplete data because the instructions in the form were not clear and you made mistakes in filling it out. Avoid presenting information that is incorrect. An example is to announce that you are working when you are not.

It is important to prevent falsification of documents Do not submit false documents about your job, assets, etc. As any significant error could prohibit you from reapplying for a visa in the future, be careful when you fill out your application form.

2. Missing a deadline: Numerous steps are included in the PR visa application process. In order to make the process more streamlined, each step must be completed within a defined time period. Failure to complete these steps within the deadline can lead to the refusal of your visa.

Depending on the deadlines, schedule your application process. Offer yourself sufficient time to collect all the documentation needed so that you can submit your request on time and complete the process within the deadline.

3. Non-eligibility: With its individual eligibility criteria such as age, educational credentials, job experience, skill level, etc., Canada has a multitude of immigration programs. If you do not meet the eligibility requirements or do not include the correct details, your PR application might be denied.

To pick ones where your credentials are a close match, analyze the eligibility criteria of the immigration programs. This will make you an eligible candidate for your application and improve your chances of acceptance. A safer choice will be to seek the assistance of an immigration consultant who will assist you with the process of applying.

Certain immigration programs submit more invitations to candidates compared to others. It helps to identify these programs and assess if you meet their eligibility requirements.

4. Failure to submit the required documents: Mandatory documentation must be included with your PR submission. Not complying with this provision would mean that your application will be denied.

Create a list of the documents needed and make sure you send them within the deadline to the Canadian embassy.

5. Inability to show proof of funds: A Canadian PR applicant must demonstrate that he has enough funds. Evidence in the form of bank statements or bank certificates must be submitted. This is to show that he has the finances to support himself and his family. The applicant must provide documentation of the funds on the basis of the visa program he is applying for.

Based on the specifications of your PR application, include all the necessary proof of your financial assets.

6. Medical record: The Canadian government maintains that a medical certificate or a satisfactory medical report must be submitted by any PR applicant. This is to ensure that they do not create a strain on the healthcare system or pose a danger to the Canadian public by any infection they may have once they come to Canada.

Failure to specify the health criterion will lead to rejection.

7. Criminal background: Before their application is approved, Canada PR applicants must go through a criminal background check. They must have no record of criminal crimes committed in their country of origin. This is to prevent migrants who may pose a threat to Canadian people and the state from entering the country.

For approval of your PR application, a clean record is needed. Avoid rejection of your PR visa

To reduce any chances of rejection, plan and prepare well in advance for your application submission. Be well-informed of the requirements and keep them ready well in advance.  This will ensure acceptance of your application.

What are the obligations of a PR visa holder?

If you are a PR visa holder, you must carry your PR card or permanent resident travel document (PRTD) when you are traveling to Canada. Without this, you may not be able to board a flight, boat, train or bus to the country.

You must ensure that the card is valid when you return to Canada after any travel outside the country. You should apply for a new PR card if your current one has expired.

What are the conditions for the renewal of a PR visa?

If you want to renew your PR card, ensure that you have lived in Canada for at least 730 days in the past five years. This need not be a period of continuous stay, but you need to have a record of staying in the country for this period to renew your visa. If you meet this requirement, you can apply for the renewal of your visa.

Residency obligation requirement for PR visa holders:

If you have a permanent residency in Canada, you will have to meet the residency obligation requirement as a PR visa holder. The Immigration and Refugee Protection Act of Canada says that PR visa holders should comply with this requirement for every five-year period.

The residency obligation requires that you must spend a total of 730 days (roughly two years) during this five-year period. The 730 days need not be continuous, you can enter and exit the country any number of times. But you must ensure that you spend a minimum of 730 days in the five-year period. This is relevant when you apply for the renewal of your PR visa. If you do not meet the residency obligation you are at risk of not being able to renew your PR visa and losing your PR status.

This residency obligation is verified when you make an application for the renewal of your PR visa or apply for a permanent resident travel document. Your residency obligation will be assessed at the Canadian border.

If you were not able to spend 730 days in Canada during the five-year period, you can still meet the residency requirement under the following conditions:

• You had to travel with a spouse or parent who is a Canadian outside of Canada
• You had to work outside of Canada on a full-time basis for a Canadian business or the Canadian provincial, territorial, or federal government
• You had to accompany your spouse or parent who is a permanent resident and is working outside Canada for a Canadian business or the Canadian provincial, territorial, or federal government

The exemption can be made on humanitarian or compassionate grounds if you have breached the residency obligation.

Can you lose your PR status?

You run the risk of losing your PR visa if:

• An adjudicator declares you are not a permanent resident subsequent to an inquiry or PRTD appeal
• You give up your permanent resident status
• A removal order comes into force against you
• You become a Canadian citizen.

Getting your PR visa for Canada can be a long and complex process, however, the help of an immigration consultant can make it easier for you. Our expertise of over 15 years has helped many individuals in getting their Canada PR visa.

Federal Skilled Worker Program and Express Entry migration

The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)  is one of the three programs within the Express Entry System that an aspiring immigrant can apply under for permanent residence in Canada.

Candidates wishing to apply under the FSWP for immigration to Canada must first submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) by creating their online Express Entry profile.

The selection factors for the FSWP are like those for Express Entry and includes the following criteria:

• Age
• Education
• Work experience
• Language ability- this includes English and/or French language skills
• Adaptability
• Having a valid job offer

Eligibility factors

To be eligible for the FSWP, candidates must score at least 67 points in all the above criteria.

Apart from this, candidates must fulfill the following conditions to qualify for the FSWP:

• Have at least one year of continuous full-time or equivalent paid work experience in the past 10 years in a skilled occupation
• Qualify for Arranged Employment with a Labor Market Impact Assessment and a full-time, permanent job offer from a Canadian employer
• Have completed a Ph.D. in Canada, or have completed two years of study in Canada towards a Ph.D. in a recognized institution
• A foreign educational credential, and an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) by an agency approved by CIC to show it is equal to a completed Canadian secondary or post-secondary educational credential.
• Pass a minimum threshold of language ability for one of Canada’s two official languages (English/French)

Apart from this, all applicants must meet the health and security requirements as indicated by the IRCC.

If an applicant meets the eligibility criteria, the application makes it to the Express Entry System after which they will get an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Canadian permanent residence.

 Documents to be submitted with the FSWP application:

• Completed application form
• Valid passport
• Receipt to prove the payment of processing fees
• Proof of identity and civil status
• Proof of educational and professional qualifications
• Proof of work experience
• Certificate proving language proficiency
• Canadian ECA
• Police clearance certificate
• Proof of having the required funds to support themselves and family members after coming to Canada

Processing Times

The applications for the Federal Skilled Workers Program are usually processed in six months or less.

Federal Skilled Trades Program and Express Entry

The Federal Skilled Trades Program or FSTP is one of the three programs in the Express Entry System which helps international skilled workers to secure a job and permanent residence in Canada.

The FSTP has come into focus owing to the serious skill shortage in Canada. It provides a good opportunity for skilled workers to try for a job in the country. Here are more details about the FSTP program.

Skilled workers in various occupations can submit their profiles to the FSTP and incur a chance to get an invitation to apply or ITA for a visa. The selection is based on a lottery system, but the chances of selection are high because Canada has a labor shortage in different occupations.

The government of Canada releases a list of skilled trades that are facing a shortage of labor on a regular basis. Based on this list international workers and those on a temporary work permit can apply in the FSTP to see if they have a chance to be selected.

The list of skilled trades is based on Canada’s National Occupational Classification (NOC) list. If you get your permanent resident visa through the Federal Skilled Trades Program, you will be eligible to live and work in Canada and can become a Canadian citizen after a few years.

Eligibility requirements for the Federal Skilled Trades Program

• Must have an employment offer from two employers in Canada who have agreed to an employment term of at least one year or you must have a Certificate of Qualification from a provincial or territorial body
• Must have work experience in a skilled trade for at least two years in a full-time or part-time job
• Must meet or exceed the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) ranking or required language levels in English or French needed for the job by taking the relevant tests
• Applicant must intend to work and live outside Quebec
• Applicant must demonstrate his ability to meet the job requirements of the skilled trade as per NOC requirements

Education requirements

Though the FSTP does not have education requirements, an applicant who wants to earn points for his CRS score under the Express Entry system must provide:

o Proof of education- Canadian High School or Post-Secondary certificate, diploma or degree

o International applicants with a foreign degree must provide an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report from an agency approved by CIC

FSTP admission requirements

If you wish to enter Canada through the FSTP program, ensure that you have no reason to become ineligible to qualify for the program. This includes:

• You are a security risk
• You have a record of international or human rights violations
• You are convicted of a crime within or outside of Canada
• You have critical health issues
• You have financial troubles
• You gave false information in your application or interview
• One of your family members is barred from entering Canada

Canadian Experience Class and Express Entry

Work experience and Canada PR

If you are applying under the Federal Skilled Worker program under the Express Entry category, then your work experience will be counted.

Work Experience as a student: According to this rule, if you have worked part-time or full-time while doing your bachelor’s or master’s degree, then the work experience will be considered.

Work experience obtained while you were studying may count towards your minimum requirements if the work was continuous (no job gaps), compensated by wages or commissions and fulfills all other program requirements.

Skilled work experience: You will be given points for full-time work and not for any seasonal work. Your occupation must be listed as Skill Type 0 or Skill Level A or B of the National Occupational Classification (NOC). This will include:

• Managerial jobs (skill type 0)
• Professional jobs (skill level A)
• Technical jobs and skilled trades (skill level B)

If the IRCC must consider your work experience for the PR visa application, you must prove that you have performed the duties that appear in the lead statement of the occupational description in the NOC. This will include all the essential duties and the main duties listed in the description.

Skilled work experience specifications

You must have worked in the same job that has the same NOC as the job you have specified in your immigration application which will be called your primary occupation

You must have been in this job for the last ten years

Paid work means you must have been paid wages or commission for this job, this exempts volunteer work and unpaid internships

Work experience will include at least one year of continuous work or 1, 560 hours of total work which is 30 hours of work per week.

• You can meet this requirement by working at a full-time job for 30 hours per week for 12 months
• You can work for an equal amount of time in a part-time job for 15 hours per week for 24 months
• You can work full time at more than one job for more than 30 hours per week for 12 months at more than one job for one year
• You can work at a part-time job you can work for either more or less than 15 hours per week if it adds up to 1,560 hours
• Any work that you do for more than 30 hours per week is not considered

Educational pathway for Canada PR

PR applicants are evaluated on various criteria such as age, skills, education, age and work experience.

If a candidate decides to study in Canada, he will gain points in three areas-language, education and work experience and additional points if he is young. Education in Canada can give valuable points for various immigration streams such as Express Entry or PNP streams.

Students are also allowed to work up to 20 hours per week while pursuing their course which helps them gain valuable Canadian work experience and add points to their CRS score.

Studying in Canada will help you get familiar with the culture, people and language (English/French) which will help your social integration once you become a permanent resident.

Benefits of Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)

Apart from providing one of the best facilities to international students, a recent policy adopted by the government allows students who begin their course online in the fall of 2020 to obtain their Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) after their studies are over.

The PGWP helps foreign students obtain job experience in Canada after completing their course of study at a designated learning institute (DLI). The PGWP is valid for three years, depending on the study program’s duration.

The work experience gained through the PGWP proves to be a major advantage when they submit their federal or provincial immigration application for a PR visa. Under the Express Entry system, applicants who have studied in Canada will get additional points for their education and work experience in the country. This will add to their CRS score.

These students can also apply under the Canadian Experience Class program which recognizes the work experience gained in Canada in the PR visa application.

Prior work experience and PR visa

Prior work experience is a highly favorable factor in gaining a PR visa, it is an indication that a foreign worker will easily fit in with the needs of the Canadian labor market. More than 93 percent of PNP candidates and 95 percent of CEC candidates have prior work experience. This acts in their favor while applying for a PR visa.

Many of the CEC and PNP candidates would have come to study in Canada and accumulated some work experience through the Post-graduate work Permit (PGWP) requirements. This indicates that they would have already lived in Canada for many years before acquiring permanent residency. They would have also acquired the skills necessary to succeed in the Canadian job market such as having the required knowledge for the job as well as language proficiency. Pursuing a degree in Canada comes with inherent advantages.

Immigrants with pre-arranged jobs earned 15 percent more than those without, during their first two years after becoming permanent residents.

This may explain why immigration applicants who have a pre-arranged job offer are given between 50 and 200 additional Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points, depending on the seniority of the position offered. CRS is the point system used by the Express Entry system to assess candidates who apply for one of Canada’s economic immigration programs (FSWP, PNP and CEC, among others).

In addition, immigrants who had a high income in Canada before becoming permanent residents earned almost double those who had no Canadian work experience.

Startup visa program for permanent residency

The Startup Visa program offers permanent resident visa to qualified immigrants who wish to start a business in the country. The other name for this visa program is the Startup Class.

Under this visa program, candidates can come to Canada on a work permit which is sponsored by their Canada-based investor and then apply for a PR visa once their business is established in the country.

This program encourages immigrant entrepreneurs to develop their startups in Canada. Successful applicants can tie-up with private sector investor in Canada to receive help on funding and guidance on running their business. The three types of private sector investors they can approach are:

1. Venture capital fund
2. Business incubator
3. Angel investor

 Eligibility requirements for visa applicants are:

• Have proof that the business has the required support from a designated entity in the form of a Commitment Certificate and Letter of Support
• Have a qualifying business
• Have the required proficiency in English or French
• Have completed at least one year of post-secondary education
• Have enough funds to settle in Canada and support dependent family members
• Must clear the medical tests and security requirements

Specific guidelines

This visa program has specific guidelines on the ownership and shareholding requirements for a startup.

Applicants for this visa must have the support or sponsorship of a specified Canadian venture capital fund, angel investor or business incubator to qualify for the visa.

The IRCC has designated specific venture capital funds, investor groups and business incubators to be part of this visa program.

Startups that succeed in getting through this program must be able to get the minimum required investment. If it is from a venture capital fund, the minimum investment should be USD 200,000. If the investment is from an angel investor group, the investment should be at least USD 75,000. Applicants must be accepted by a designated business incubator as a member of the business incubator program.

Qualifying for a work permit and later permanent residence

To qualify for a work permit, the candidate can apply for one after receiving the Commitment certificate from a designated entity.

In order to qualify for a permanent residence, the candidate must be fully involved in managing the business in Canada which must be incorporated in the country. The business operations at least the essential part must take place in Canada.

Processing time for work permit and PR visa under the Startup visa program

If the entrepreneur has a viable business project, the commitment letter or letter of support will take about 4 to 6 months. Once the candidate gets this letter, he can make an application for a PR visa. The PR visa will take approximately 18 months to be processed.

The Startup Visa program does not require applicants to invest their own money in the business. This program can a pathway to a PR visa for immigration candidates who want to be entrepreneurs.

You must have worked in the same job that has the same NOC as the job you have specified in your immigration application which will be called your primary occupation

You must have been in this job for the last ten years

Paid work means you must have been paid wages or commission for this job, this exempts volunteer work and unpaid internships

Work experience will include at least one year of continuous work or 1, 560 hours of total work which is 30 hours of work per week.

• You can meet this requirement by working at a full-time job for 30 hours per week for 12 months
• You can work for an equal amount of time in a part-time job for 15 hours per week for 24 months
• You can work full time at more than one job for more than 30 hours per week for 12 months at more than one job for one year
• You can work at a part-time job you can work for either more or less than 15 hours per week if it adds up to 1,560 hours

Any work that you do for more than 30 hours per week is not considered

The Canadian Experience Class or CEC program is aimed to help foreign workers or students who are staying on a temporary basis in Canada to become permanent residents. It considers their work experience or education and their contribution to Canadian society for granting PR status.

You can qualify for this visa if you have studied or worked in Canada and meet the minimum requirements. The other important eligibility requirements are:

• 12 months of work experience- either full-time or part-time in the past three years
• Work experience must have proper authorization
• Applicant must have plans to live in a province outside Quebec
• Meet the language proficiency requirements

Canada’s immigration pilot programs

The federal government’s strategy of launching pilot programs is an endeavor to improve the immigration programs of Canada. The pilot programs become a testing ground to assess whether the intended results are achieved before the immigration program becomes permanent.

Some popular and recent pilot programs

Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program

This immigration program was launched in 2017 to help bring more workers to the country’s Atlantic region that includes the four Atlantic provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Prince Edward Island.

It is the most successful pilot program launched so far. More than 4000 migrants have settled in the Atlantic region of Canada under this program.  The government is proposing to make this program permanent with a target of at least 5000 migrants every year.

Under this employer-driven program which does not require an LMIA, employers in the Atlantic region can hire international workers. If a prospective immigrant receives a job offer from any of the participating employers, they will receive support for the immigration process to settle down in Canada.

To be eligible for the program, you must first get a job offer from one of the employers under the program.

The AIPP proposes to welcome more than 7,000 foreign nationals with their families by 2021 to the Atlantic Canada region. There are three programs under the AIPP:

• Atlantic High-skilled Program
• Atlantic Intermediate-skilled Program
• Atlantic International Graduate Program

However, applicants can apply only under one of these programs. Each program has its own set of eligibility requirements. The best part is that this program offers a pathway to a PR visa.

Agri-food Immigration Pilot

The Agri-Food Immigration Pilot was launched in July 2019 to help meet the labor shortage in the agricultural sector in the country constantly deals with. The agri-food immigration pilot started accepting applications in May 2020. The pilot program was introduced to meet labor shortages in the agriculture industry.

Each year, the agri-food industry yields $110 billion in domestic sales plus an extra $65 billion in export sales. The industry supports 1 in every 8 Canadian jobs.

But talent shortages have stunted the agri-food industry’s potential for economic growth.

The agri-food immigration pilot is an attempt to hire Temporary Foreign Workers (TFWs) to meet the labor shortage in the industry. This is the first industry-specific immigration stream launched by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The program will allow a maximum of 2,750 candidates and their family members to submit applications every year.

The applications will be accepted till May 2023 according to the IRCC.

If the program runs for three years as planned will lead to 16,500 new permanent residents at the end of three years. The pilot program was launched to meet the labor needs in the agri-food sector in Canada.

In 2019, the federal government launched the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP).  Today the provinces of Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia are participating in the RNIP.

Employers in Canada who sign up for the pilot program will be eligible for the Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) for a period of two years.

Temporary foreign workers will also be able to apply under the pilot from this year.

Industries that are eligible for the Agri-food Immigration Pilot program:

• Meat products manufacturers manufacturing
• Greenhouse, nursery and floriculture production, including mushroom production
• Animal production, excluding aquaculture

Temporary foreign workers will also be able to apply under the pilot from this year.

Eligibility requirements for the program:

Candidates must have completed 12 months of non-seasonal work under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program in an eligible occupation as mentioned above

They required a CLB level of 4 in English or French

They must have completed the Canadian equivalent of high school education or a higher level

They can have a job offer for full-time non-seasonal work in Canada except Quebec

Eligible Occupations under the pilot include:

• Meat processing industry-retail butcher, industrial butcher, food processing laborer
• Harvesting laborers in mushroom production and greenhouse crop production
• General farm worker in mushroom production, greenhouse crop production, or livestock raising
• Farm supervisor and specialized livestock worker for meat processing, mushroom production, greenhouse crop production or livestock raising

Temporary foreign workers will also be able to apply under the pilot from this year.

Recent Canada Immigration News

Mar 25, 2023

Ontario, BC, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Quebec invited 2,739 candidates in 3rd week of March

OINP invited 746 candidates from the Skilled Trades stream with a score of 250-489. MPNP issued 566 LAAs to candidates having a CRS score of 612 or more. BCPNP issued ITAs to 258 candidates with a minimum score between 60 to 106. SINP issued EOI to 550 candidates with scores between 80 to 135. Québec has issued NOC to 619 people to apply for permanent selection under its RSWP with a cut-off score of 578.

Read more…

Ontario, BC, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Quebec invited 2,739 candidates in 3rd week of March

Mar 23, 2023

Express Entry draws roars in March: 7000 ITAs issued with lowest CRS score 484

Canada invited 7,000 candidates in the all-program draw. The minimum CRS score for the draw was 484. This was Canada’s eighth Express Entry draw of 2023. A multi-year provincial immigration plan was endorsed that set immigration targets for the next three years.

Read more…

Express Entry draws roars in March: 7000 ITAs issued with lowest CRS score 484

Mar 23, 2023

Canada to increase PNP immigration levels. Register now for Canada PNP!

An increase of 105,000 immigrants is expected through PNP each of the next three years. By 2025 the growth is expected to reach 117,500. Candidates with PNP nominations are awarded an additional 600 points under the CRS score. From March 10th, the provinces have started to introduce new PNP allocations.

Read more…
Canada to increase PNP immigration levels. Register now for Canada PNP!

Mar 23, 2023

IRCC invests more than $1 million for women immigrants to get Tech jobs in Canada

Canada will invest $1.1 million into the RNWP program over the next two years. Over the last two years, $15 million has been invested in the program. The investment will be made to help immigrant, and minority women get jobs in the IT sector. The program addresses many barriers faced by racialized newcomer women.

Read more…
IRCC invests more than $1 million for women immigrants to get Tech jobs in Canada

March 20, 2023

Big announcement by Sean Fraser, ‘PGWPs can now work in Canada for 4.5 years.’

Canada is offering an additional extension of 18 months to the PGWP holders. By the end of 2022, there were a total of 286,000 PGWP holders in Canada, as per the IRCC. 67,000 of 286,000 PGWP holders have already applied for Canadian PR. In 2022, 95,000 international students were successfully transitioned to permanent residence.

Read more…
Big announcement by Sean Fraser, ‘PGWPs can now work in Canada for 4.5 years.’

March 18, 2023

375,000 PRs transitioned to Canadian citizens, India stands #1

Canada plans to welcome over 1.45 million new immigrants in the next three years. 59,503 Indian PRs got transitioned to Canadian citizens in 2022. 374,554 permanent residents became Canadian citizens in 2022. India tops the list of countries with the most number of PRs transitioned to citizens.

Read more…

375,000 PRs transitioned to Canadian citizens, India stands #1

March 16, 2023

PEI PNP draw invited 190 candidates in March 2023

Prince Edward Island issued two PNP draws on March 02, 2023, and March 16, 2023. Candidates were invited under the business stream and Labour and Express Entry. The minimum score for the business stream was 52. Labour and Express Entry candidates received 190 invitations in total from both draws.

Read more…

PEI PNP draw invited 190 candidates in March 2023                                             

March 16, 2023

OINP invited 615 candidates under Ontario’s French-Speaking Skilled Worker stream

615 candidates received NOIs under OINP under their French-Speaking Skilled Worker stream. It held two draws under the stream on March 16, 2023. The cut-off score for the first draw was between 291-489 under the French-Speaking Skilled Worker stream, and the cut-off score for the second draw was between 400-489.

Read more…

OINP invited 615 candidates under Ontario’s French-Speaking Skilled Worker stream

March 15, 2023

Biggest Express Entry Draw ever issued 7,000 ITAs, to fill 1 million job vacancies in Canada

IRCC issued 7,000 ITAs for candidates having a minimum score of 490 on March 15, 2023. This draw breaks the record of 5500 ITAs issued on January 18, 2023. 

Date	No. of invitations issued	CRS Score
March 15, 2023	7000	490

Read more…

March 15, 2023

Quebec releases 2023 occupation list of easier LMIAs

The Quebec Ministry of Immigration released its Occupation List of 2023 for simplified LMIA processing. The last update made to the occupation list of Quebec was in 2022. Quebec employers are supposed to offer a healthy working environment and salary and provide Health Insurance to the workers.

Read more…

Quebec releases 2023 occupation list of easier LMIAs

March 14, 2023

British Columbia issued 235 Skills Immigration invitations under 2 streams

BC PNP draw was held on March 14, 2023, and issued 235 invitations. This is a targeted draw and invited Tech and healthcare professionals. Candidates having scores ranging between 60-83 were asked in this draw. All these candidates get the eligibility to apply for Canada PR.

Read more…

British Columbia issued 235 Skills Immigration invitations under 2 streams

March 09, 2023

Alberta issued 134 NOIs with a cut-off score of 301

Alberta Express Entry draw issued 134 nomination certificates on March 9, 2023. The CRS score of the lowest-ranked candidate who received a Notification of Interest letter is 301. IRCC has set the limit to 9,750 NOCs for Alberta for 2023. By now, Alberta has already issued 1,292 NOCs so far in 2023.

Read more…

Alberta issued 134 NOIs with a cut-off score of 301

March 14, 2023

Ontario invited 908 candidates under two streams

Ontario Provincial Nominee Program held three draws on March 14, 2023. One draw was under Foreign Worker Stream and two under the International Student stream. The scores range under the International Student stream was 70 and above for one and 74 and above for the second. Under Foreign Worker Stream, there were only 2 invitations made, and 906 invitations were made under the International Student stream.

Read more…

Ontario invited 908 candidates under two streams

March 13, 2023

Quebec Arrima Draw invited 1017 candidates to apply for permanent selection

Minister of Immigration, Francization and Integration has invited 1017 candidates having a score equal to or greater than 589 points. The decision for invitations is based on the public invitation criteria under section 45 of the Québec Immigration Act. Invitations were also sent to the people with a valid job offer outside the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal.

Read more…

Quebec Arrima Draw invited 1017 candidates to apply for permanent selection

March 13, 2023

Employment in Canada remained the same in February 2023

The unemployment rate in Canada was 5.0% in February. The month witnessed an increase of 22,000 in employment growth. Employment among women has increased by 30,000. The professional, Scientific, and Technical Services industry saw the most considerable employment growth, with 84,000, and New Brunswick recorded the highest employment growth, with 5,100.

Read more…

Employment in Canada remained the same in February 2023

March 11, 2023

Alberta calls for 100,000 skilled professionals. Apply now for AAIP!

The Prairie province gave the green light to increase immigration numbers in 2023-2025 under the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program.

Year	Nominations
2023	9,750
2024	10,140
2025	10,849

Read more…

March 10, 2023

Ontario, Manitoba & New Brunswick PNP Draws issued 1586 ITAs

Three provinces namely Ontario, New Brunswick and Manitoba held three draws and invited 1586 candidates under different streams.

• Manitoba issued 597 LAAs to candidates having a CRS score 612 or more.
• Ontario issued 815 NOIS to candidates having a CRS score range 479-489.
• New Brunswick invited 144 international individuals in the Express Entry.

Read more…

March 10, 2023

Bill C-19 brings changes to Express Entry CRS score evaluation

Express Entry system to undergo various amendments in the Comprehensive Ranking System after the Bill C19 received royal assent. Selections must be made on the basis of new groups & categories, and the minister must specify of Economic goals must be there with each category. Also, Minister’s report must include the category for immigrants.

Read more…

Bill C-19 brings changes to Express Entry CRS score evaluation

March 09, 2023
OINP targeted draw: Issued 822 NOIs to Healthcare professionals

OINP conducted a draw on March 8-9, 2023 via Express Entry HCP stream. Ontario issued NOIs to 822 candidates and his is a targeted draw and invited healthcare professionals. Candidates having CRS scores of 469 to 489 were invited in this draw.

Read more….

OINP targeted draw: Issued 822 NOIs to Healthcare professionals

March 08, 2023

4.2 million immigrant women work in Canada, StatCan reports

In 2022, there were 4.2 million immigrant women in the labor market, and 620,885 women who came to Canada were principal applicants. Immigrants contribute to 100% of the country’s labor force and 75% of Canada’s population, and women have an 83% participation rate in Canada.

Read more…..

4.2 million immigrant women work in Canada, StatCan reports

March 08, 2023

PGWPs has become the direct path for international students to obtain Canada PR

PGWP is a valuable tool for obtaining a Canadian permanent residency. The number of PGWP holders has increased from 10,300 to 64,700 during 2008-18. The permit allows its holder to work for any Canadian employer for three years. Between the years 2008 to 2018, the number of PGWP holders increased by 528%, from 10,300 to 64,700.

Read more…

PGWPs has become the direct path for international students to obtain Canada PR

March 01, 2023

Express Entry PNP-only draw issued 667 ITAs

In the sixth Express Entry draw of 2023, 667 candidates were issued Invitation to Apply from the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) of the candidates was 748.

Read more..
Canada issued 667 ITAs in Express Entry PNP-only draw

March 07, 2023

Highlights of BCPNP draw on March 07, 2023

• BCPNP draw held on March 07, 2023
• Invited 274 candidates under two streamsCandidates having a CRS score ranging from 60 – 105 were invited in this draw
• All these candidates are eligible to apply for provincial nomination

British Columbia invited 274 Skilled Immigrants and Express Entry candidates to apply for a provincial nomination on March 07, 2023.

Read more…

BCPNP draw invites 274 candidates under two streams

March 02, 2023

New Brunswick, Canada International Recruitment Event is now open for registration. Reserve your spot!

New Brunswick, Canada Recruitment Event offers a unique opportunity for skilled professionals to settle in Canada. It provides a distinct way of life and exciting career opportunities. Avail of this great opportunity to work in Canada. Register for the New Brunswick virtual recruitment event now!

Read more…

March 01, 2023

Canada visit visa holders can work in Canada, if they have a valid job offer

According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), if any foreign national (with a visit visa) gets a job offer in Canada, they can apply for and receive a work permit.  This rule is an extension of the COVID-19-era temporary public policy, which expired recently. This rule will be applicable till Feb 28, 2025.

Read more…
IRCC says ‘Canada visit visa holders can work in Canada, if they have a valid job offer’

March 01, 2023

Canada issued 550,000 study permits in 2022. Apply for 2023 intake now!

Canada saw a record number of study permit issuance in 2022 with 551,405 permits. The figure represents a 24.1 percent increase from the number issued the last year.

Year	No. of study permits issued
2015	219,035
2016	264,285
2017	314,995
2018	354,290
2019	400,660
2020	255,695
2021	444,260
2022	551,405

Read more…
Canada issued 550,000 study permits in 2022. Apply for 2023 intake now!

February 28, 2023

Canada PNP Immigration results for February 2023: 5,732 candidates were invited

In February 2023, six provinces in Canada held 13 PNP draws and invited 5,732 candidates globally.

Here is the list of provinces that held PNP draws in February 2023.

• Alberta
• British Columbia
• Ontario
• PEI
• Manitoba
• Saskatchewan

Read more…

February 28, 2023

Canada Express Entry February 2023 Draw Results: 4,892 Candidates Invited to Apply

Canada held three Express Entry draws in February 2023 and issued  4,892  Invitations to Apply (ITAs). The details of the Express Entry draws held in February were given below:

Draw No.	Date of Draw	CRS cut-off	ITAs issued
#239	Feb 01, 2023	791	893
#240	Feb 02, 2023	489	3,300
#241	Feb 15, 2023	733	699

Read more…

February 25, 2023

For the first time in Canada’s history, 608,420 work permits issued in a year

Canada made a record of issuing 608420 work permits in a year. Work permits were issued through International Mobility Program and Temporary Foreign Worker Program. The number of work permits issued under IMP was 472,070, while 136,350 were issued under TFWP. Most work permits under IMP were issued in the following streams:

Medical residents and fellows, and post-graduate employment applicants—36% of effective permits collectively;

• Charitable or religious workers—29% of effective permits;
• Other IMP participants—8%;
• Spouses of skilled workers—5%;
• Post-doctoral PhD fellows and award recipients—4%;
• Intra-company transfers—2%; and
• The International Experience Canada (IEC) program)—2%.

Read more…

For the first time in Canada’s history, 608,420 work permits issued in a year

February 25, 2023

125,000 Temporary Residents transitioned to Canada Permanent Residents in 2022, StatCan Reports.

IRCC reported that 125,000 temporary residents became permanent in Canada in 2022. Immigrants who have study permits received Canada PR visas. Besides this, immigrants with work permits under International Mobility Program or Temporary Foreign Worker Program. Statistics Canada data reveals that temporary residents are able to join the workforce easily.

Read more…

125,000 Temporary Residents transitioned to Canada Permanent Residents in 2022, StatCan Reports.

February 23, 2023

Manitoba PNP draw issued 583 invitations under three streams

Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program issued 583 invitations to the candidates to apply for a Canada PR visa. Candidates were invited under the streams listed below:

• Skilled Worker in Manitoba
  • Occupation-specific selection
  • All occupations
• Skilled Worker Overseas
• International Education Stream

The details of the draw can be found in the table below:

Date	Streams	Categories	Number of invitations	Score
February 23, 2023	Skilled Worker in Manitoba	Occupation-specific selection	207	615
		All occupations	298	693
	Skilled worker Overseas	NA	27	721
	International Education Stream	NA	51	NA

Candidates with a jobseeker validation code and an Express Entry profile received 140 invitations.

Read more…

Manitoba PNP draw issued 583 invitations under three streams

February 22, 2023

BC PNP issued 246 Skills Immigration Invitations

British Columbia held the third BC PNP draw in 2023 and invited 246 candidates. The draw was held on February 22, 2023, and the invited candidates are eligible for a Canada PR visa. 

Read more…

BC PNP issued 246 Skills Immigration Invitations

February 16, 2023

2nd Quebec Arrima draw of 2023 invited 1,011 candidates

Quebec held an Arrima draw on February 16, 2023, and issued 1,011 invitations. This is the second Quebec draw held in February 2023. The candidates whose job offer is outside the territory of the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal and whose score is 583 were invited in this draw. The details can be found in the table below:

Date of the draw	Number of invitations	Score
February 16, 2023	1,011	583

Read more…

2nd Quebec Arrima draw of 2023 invited 1,011 candidates

February 16, 2023

PEI PNP draw issued 228 invitations to apply for Canada PR

Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program draw was held on February 16, 2023. The number of invitations issued in this draw was 228. Candidates under the Labour and Express Entry stream received 22 invitations. The number of Business stream invitations was 6. The table below reveals the details of the draw:

Invitation Date Business Work Permit Entrepreneur Invitations Minimum Point Threshold for Business Invitations Labour & Express Entry Invitations Invitation Totals over last 12 months.

Read more…

PEI PNP draw issued 228 invitations to apply for Canada PR

February 17, 2023

118,095 Indians got Canada PR in 2022. You can be in 2023. Apply now!

Canada invited 437,120 PRs in 2022 though the target was 431,645 as per the 2022-2024 Immigration Levels Plan. The table below shows the number of invitations in each month in 2022:

Months	Invitations
January	35,450
February	37,360
March	40,985
April	36,365
May	37,985
June	43,940
July	43,330
August	34,135
September	44,645
October	33,625
November	25,970
December	23,340

The invitations in different classes can be found in the table below:

Class	Invitations
Economic	2,56,000
Family	97,165
Refugees	75,330
All other immigration	8,500

Here are the details of Canada PR given to the citizens of each country:

Country	Invitations
India	118, 095
China	31,815
Afghanistan	23,735
Nigeria	22,085
Philippines	22,070
France	14,145
Pakistan	11,585
Iran	11,105
United States of America	10,400
Syria	8,500

Number of PRs welcomed by each province/territory can be found in the table below:

Province/Territory	2022 PRs
Newfoundland and Labrador	3,490
Prince Edward Island	2,665
Nova Scotia	12,650
New Brunswick	10,205
Quebec	68,685
Ontario	1,84,725
Manitoba	21,645
Saskatchewan	21,635
Alberta	49,460
British Columbia	61,215
Yukon	455
Northwest Territories	235
Nunavut	45
Province not stated	20

Read more…

118,095 Indians got Canada PR in 2022. You can be in 2023. Apply now!

February 16, 2023

Saskatchewan PNP draw under International Skilled Workers Stream issued 421 invitations

Saskatchewan Provincial Nominee Program draw issued invitations to 421 candidates under the International Skilled Workers Stream. The candidates were invited under three categories mentioned below:

• Express Entry candidates with a score of 84 received 177 invitations
• Candidates under the Occupation In-Demand and have the score of 84 received 243 invitations
• One invitation was issued to the Ukrainian residents having a score of 65

The table below reveals the details:

Date	Category	Score of lowest-ranked candidates	Number of invitations	Considerations
February 16, 2023	Express Entry	84	177	Invited candidates had ECA credentials. Not all occupations were selected for this draw.
	Occupations In-Demand		243	Invited candidates had ECA credentials. Not all occupations were selected for this draw.
	NA	65	1	Invitations issued to Ukrainian residents due to the current conflict

Read more…

Saskatchewan PNP draw under International Skilled Workers Stream issued 421 invitations

February 16, 2023

Canada cuts 50% work experience requirements of PR Visa for Caregivers. Apply now!

Canada has reduced the requirement of work experience for applicants to apply for Canada PR through Caregiver pilot programs. Canada introduced two caregiver pilot programs which are Home Child Care Provider (HCCP) and the Home Support Worker (HSW) pilots. Canada provided PR to 1,100 caregivers in 2022. The reduction in work experience will help more caregivers to get permanent residency. The new rule will be effective from April 30, 2023.

Read more…

Canada cuts 50% work experience requirements of PR Visa for Caregivers. Apply now!

February 15, 2023

Canada Express Entry issued 699 invitations with 791 CRS score

IRCC held its 5^th Express Entry draw in which invitations have been issued to 699 candidates to apply for a Canada PR visa. Candidates with a score of 791 were invited in this draw under Provincial Nominee Program. This is the second Express Entry draw under PNP. The details of the draw can be found in the table below:

Draw No.	Program	Date of Draw	ITAs issued	CRS score
#241	Provincial Nominee Program	February 15, 2023	699	791

Read more…

Canada Express Entry issued 699 invitations with 791 CRS score

February 9, 2023

First Quebec Arrima Draw of 2023 invited 1,011 candidates to apply for permanent selection

Quebec held its first Arrima draw in 2023 and invited 1,011 candidates to apply for permanent selection. The minimum score for this draw was 619. Candidates who either scored 619 or have a job offer outside of the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal were eligible for invitations. The details can be found in the table below:

Date of the draw	Number of invitations	Score
February 9, 2023	1,011	699

Read more…

First Quebec Arrima Draw of 2023 invited 1,011 candidates to apply for permanent selection

February 14, 2023

British Columbia PNP draw issued 237 invitations under Skills Immigration stream

British Columbia held a second PNP draw in February 2023. The number of invitations issued in this draw was 237. Candidates with a score between 55 and 83 received the invitations. These candidates are now eligible to apply for a Canada PR visa.

Read more…

British Columbia PNP draw issued 237 invitations under Skills Immigration stream

February 13, 2023

Canada employment grew at a fast pace, 150,000 jobs added. Apply now

Canada added 150,000 new jobs in January 2023. It is the fifth consecutive month that Canada economy has added jobs. In December 2022, Canada added 70,000 jobs. Since September 2022, a total of 326,000 jobs were added. The population of Canada is also increase because of students and temporary workers who migrate to Canada for excellent career opportunities. Jobs were added in 6 industries and 5 provinces. These provinces include Ontario, Quebec, and Alberta.

Read more…

Canada employment grew at a fast pace, 150,000 jobs added. Apply now!

February 10, 2023

Ontario PNP issued 771 invitations under 2 streams

Ontario held 3 draws under the Foreign Worker and Skilled Trades stream through the Ontario Provincial Nominee Program. The number of invitations issued in these draws was 771. Two draws were held under the Foreign Worker stream. In the first draw, 304 candidates were invited while one invitation was issued in another draw. In the Skilled Trades stream, the number of candidates invited was 466. The table below reveals the full details:

Date	Streams	Number of invitations	Scores
February 10, 2023	Foreign Worker Stream	304	30 and above
February 10, 2023	Foreign Worker Stream	1	NA
February 10, 2023	Skilled Trades Stream	466	260-489

Read more…

Ontario PNP issued 771 invitations under 2 streams

February 07, 2023

British Columbia PNP issued 245 Skills Immigration invitations

British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program draw held on February 7, 2023, issued 245 invitations to submit applications for a Canada PR visa. Candidates with a score in the range of 60 and 102 received the invitations. The categories under which the candidates were invited are mentioned below:

• Skilled Worker Category
• International Graduate Category
• International Post-Graduate Category

The table below provides the details of the draw:

Date	Number of Invitations	Stream	Minimum Score
February 7, 2023	207	Skilled Worker	102
		Skilled Worker – EEBC option	102
		International Graduate	102
		International Graduate – EEBC option	102
		Entry Level and Semi-Skilled	82
	25	Skilled Worker, International Graduate (includes EEBC option)	60
	13	Skilled Worker, International Graduate (includes EEBC option)	60

Read more…

British Columbia PNP issued 245 Skills Immigration invitations

February 07, 2023

LMIA processing for some foreign workers to be done within 10 days

IRCC announced that LMIA processing for some skilled foreign workers can be done within 10 days. The step has been taken to help employers to hire foreign workers and reduce the skills shortage. The LMIA processing within 10 days can be done for the following:

• Employers providing hiring foreign workers for skilled trade occupations with high wages
• Employers providing equal or 10 percent more wages earned by a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
• Employers providing occupations for a short duration

Read more…

LMIA processing for some foreign workers to be done within 10 days

February 02, 2023

PTE score is now accepted for Canada PR visa application. Apply now!

IRCC allowed four tests for language proficiency which include IELTS and CELPIP for English and TCF and TEF for French. IRCC has announced to accept PTE also for Canada PR applications. The PTE test is taken up for English language proficiency. Pearson has created the PTE Essential test for English language proficiency for Canada Immigration.

Read more…

PTE score is now accepted for Canada PR visa application. Apply now!

February 02, 2023

Ontario invites 1,902 candidates under HCP Stream

On February 02, 2023, Ontario PNP draw was held and invited 1,902 candidates out of which 1,127 were Tech candidates and 775 were healthcare workers. This draw was held under the Ontario Immigration Nominee Program under the new Human Capital Priorities Stream. These candidates are eligible to apply for a provincial nomination which supports their permanent residency application, if they meet the eligibility criteria.

Read more…
Ontario invites 1,902 candidates under HCP Stream

February 02, 2023

First FSW draw in Express Entry history invited 3,300 candidates

IRCC held the fourth Express Entry draw of 2023. On February 02,2023; 3,300 candidates having a minimum score of 489 were invited. This draw was for the candidates who registered for the Federal Skilled Worker Program. On February 01, 2023 Express Entry invited 893 PNP candidates and on February 02, 2023 program-specific draw was held and invited 3,300 Federal Skilled Workers.

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February 01, 2023

Canada PNP Immigration results for January 2023

In January 2023, five provinces in Canada held 15 PNP draws and invited 5,644 candidates globally.

Here is the list of provinces that held PNP draws in January 2023.

• British Columbia
• Ontario
• PEI
• Manitoba
• Saskatchewan

The details of all the PNP draws in January 2023, are given below:

Province	No. of candidates
Ontario	3,591
Manitoba	658
Saskatchewan	50
British Columbia	1,122
PEI	223

Read more… 

Canada PNP Immigration results for January 2023

February 01, 2023

Express Entry Round Up – January 2023

IRCC held two Express Entry draws in January 2023 and issued  11,000  Invitations to Apply (ITAs). The details of the Express Entry draws held in January were given below:

Draw No.	Date of Draw	CRS cut-off	ITAs issued
#237	January 18, 2023	490	5,500
#238	January 11, 2023	507	5,500

Read more…
11,000 invitations issued in just one week: Express Entry Round up January 2023

January 31, 2023

5th BC PNP Draw of January 2023: Issued 284 skills immigration invitations

British Columbia issued 284 skills immigration invitations on January 31, 2023. The draw was held under the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program. This is the 5th draw in which candidates having a score between 60 and 85 received the invitations. The candidates can submit Canada PR visa applications.

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5th BC PNP Draw of January 2023: Issued 284 skills immigration invitations

January 31, 2023

Ontario PNP draw issued 611 invitations under Foreign Worker Stream

Ontario Provincial Nominee Program held its 4th draw under Foreign Worker Stream draw on January 31, 2023, and invited 611 candidates for submitting Canada PR visa applications. Candidates having a score of 53 and above received the invitations.

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Ontario PNP draw issued 611 invitations under Foreign Worker Stream

January 27, 2023

Ontario Entrepreneur stream draw issued 10 Canada immigration invitations

Ontario Provincial Nominee Program issued 10 invitations under the Entrepreneur stream. Candidates having a score between 137 and 162 were invited in this draw. Applicants who submitted their EOI on or before January 20, 2023, were eligible for this draw. Candidates have to meet the financial as well as non-financial requirements to migrate to Canada and start a new or manage an existing business.

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Ontario Entrepreneur stream draw issued 10 Canada immigration invitations

January 26, 2023

Manitoba PNP draw issued 336 invitations

Manitoba held its second draw in 2023 and invited 336 candidates under the three streams of the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program. Candidates with a score between 713 and 726 were invited in this draw. The draw was held under the three streams mentioned below:

• Skilled Worker in Manitoba
• Skilled Worker Overseas
• International Education Stream

Skilled Worker in Manitoba candidates with a score of 726 received 253 invitations, while invitations under the International Education Stream were 60. Candidates with 713 score received invitations under the Skilled Worker Overseas stream.

Invitations were also sent to the candidates who have the following:

• A valid Express Entry Profile
• A job seeker validation code

The invited candidates can apply for the Canada PR visa.

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Manitoba PNP draw issued 336 invitations

January 25, 2023

Ontario Masters Graduate Stream issued 692 invitations on January 25, 2023

Ontario Provincial Nominee Program held its first draw under the Masters Graduate Stream in 2023. The number of invitations issued in this draw was 692 and candidates having a score of 44 and above received the invitations.

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Ontario Masters Graduate Stream issued 692 invitations on January 25, 2023

January 24, 2023

Ontario issued 622 invitations under 2 streams

Ontario Provincial Nominee draw was held on January 24, 2023, issued 622 invitations under the following streams:

• International Student Stream
• Foreign Worker Stream

Candidates under the International Student Stream received 620 invitations. The score for the stream was 82 and above. OINP Foreign Worker stream issued 2 invitations. The date of the draw was January 24, 2023. 

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Ontario issued 622 invitations under 2 streams

January 24, 2023

New Brunswick announced ‘a new pathway to retain international students’

New Brunswick has introduced a program to retain international students. The new program is named as Study and Succeed in New Brunswick program. Its duration is 3 years and it is being funded by Opportunities NB and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA). Each agency will provide $500,000 to the program.

The Atlantic province took this step because of the report published by the Conference Board of Canada last year. The provinces have asked Ottawa to increase the slots for international students so that they can be invited through Provincial Nominee Programs.

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New Brunswick announced ‘a new pathway to retain international students’

January 21, 2023

IRCC Expands Open Work Permit Eligibility for Spouses and Children from 30th Jan, 2023

IRCC has plans to expand open work permit eligibility so that spouses, common-law partners, and dependent children of primary applicants can migrate to Canada. The dependents will have the option to apply for work, study, or visit visas to migrate to Canada. The primary applicants should either have an occupation in the TEER categories from 0 to 5 or they should be a permanent resident applicant and hold a work permit. Spouses and common-law partners who do not want to work can apply for visit or study visas. Dependent children will also have the opportunity to apply for work, study, or visit visas. The rule will become effective from Jan 30, 2023.

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IRCC Expands Open Work Permit Eligibility for Spouses and Children from 30th Jan, 2023

January 19, 2023

PEI PNP draw issued 223 invitations on January 19, 2023

The Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program draw was held on January 19, 2023, in which 223 candidates were invited for Canada PR visa application submission. The invitations were issued under the following streams:

• Business stream
• Labour & Express Entry stream

Candidates under the business stream having the score of 62 received 7 invitations. The Labour & Express Entry stream candidates received 216 invitations and no score was allocated for the stream.

The details of the draw can be found in the table below:

Invitation Date	Business Work Permit Entrepreneur Invitations	Minimum Point Threshold for Business Invitations	Labour & Express Entry Invitations	Invitation Totals over last 12 months
January 19, 2023	7	62	216	223

This is the first PEI PNP draw in 2023.

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PEI PNP draw issued 223 invitations on January 19, 2023

January 19, 2023

Alberta prioritizes family ties in new immigration program changes

Alberta will prioritize family ties to attract more newcomers to migrate to Canada and settle in the province. Alberta will use 25 percent of the Express Entry nominations to potential newcomers to work in Canada. These newcomers need to have immediate family members who live in Alberta. The newcomers need to have skills in high-demand sectors like agriculture, healthcare, and tech.

These changes will help in boosting the economy of Alberta and meeting the challenge of skills shortage. Alberta had more than 41,000 jobs in December 2022. Since 2021, the number of jobs that province added was 221,000. It has been estimated that skills shortage in Alberta will be 33,100. Currently, 6,500 nomination certificates are given to Alberta and 815 will be used for the new stream in 2023.

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Alberta prioritizes family ties in new immigration program changes

January 18, 2023

Canada announces the clearance of visit visa backlogs by February 2023

IRCC Canada plans to clear backlog applications of visit visas by February 2023. To reduce the wait times for visit visas and process nearly half a million applications, IRCC has adapted 2 strategies. The first strategy is to process 195,000 applications at a stretch, and the second is to ease some of the eligibility criteria for 450,000 applicants. Canada offers an opportunity to convert a visit visa from a work permit without leaving Canada if the applicant meets eligibility criteria. Flagpoling will be re-iterated for the renewals of study or work permits or to apply for the Canada PR process.

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Canada announces the clearance of visit visa backlogs by February 2023

January 18, 2023

2nd Express Entry draw of 2023 invites 5,500 candidates

IRCC conducted its second draw of Express Entry in January 2023. Express Entry invited 5,500 candidates in its 2nd all-program draw on January 18, 2023. Candidates who received ITAs must apply for Canada PR. The CRS score dropped to 490 after the lowest score of November 23, 2022. Candidates are invited through FSTP, FSWP, and CEC under Express Entry. To obtain an invitation, the applicant must have a valid Express Entry profile during the draw date.

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2nd Express Entry draw of 2023 invites 5,500 candidates

January 17, 2023

BC PNP Skills Immigration draw invited 192 candidates

British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program draw held on January 17, 2023, issued 192 invitations to apply for a Canada PR visa. The draw was held under Skills Immigration streams and invitations were issued to the candidates having score between 60 and 105.

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BC PNP Skills Immigration draw invited 192 candidates

January 17, 2023

Alberta issued 129 NOIs on December 8, 2022

Alberta held a PNP draw on December 8, 2022 and issued 129 invitations to the candidates having a score of 305. The candidates for this draw were selected from the Express Entry pool. The invited candidates have the opportunity to apply for a Canada PR visa.

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Alberta issued 129 NOIs on December 8, 2022

January 13, 2023

Ontario Province invites 1252 candidates under the Skills Trade Stream

Ontario immigration has held first draw in 2023 under the Skilled Trades stream and issued 1,252 Notifications of Interest. The province held this draw on January 13, 2023, and issued invitations to candidates with Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores between 336 and 506. To qualify, they also need to have a minimum of a Canadian Language Benchmark 5 or higher.

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Ontario Province invites 1252 candidates under Skills Trade Stream

January 12, 2023

First Manitoba draw in 2023 issued 322 LAAs

Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program draw held on January 12, 2022, issued 322 LAAs. The candidates invited through this draw are eligible to apply for a Canada PR visa. The invitations were issued under the three streams of MPNP. These streams are:

• Skilled Worker in Manitoba
• Skilled Worker Overseas
• International Education Stream

Besides these, candidates having the following received 20 invitations:

• A valid Express Entry profile
• Job seeker validation code

The minimum score for this draw lies between 713 and 734.

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First Manitoba draw in 2023 issued 322 LAAs

January 11, 2023

First Express Entry draw in 2023 issued 5,500 invitations with CRS score of 507

Canada issued 5,500 ITAs in the first Express Entry draw of 2023. The draw was held on January 11 and candidates who scored 507 received invitations to submit Canada PR visa applications. This is the 12^th All-Program Express Entry draw and the invited candidates can apply through the three programs mentioned below:

• Canadian Experience Class
• Federal Skilled Worker Program
• Federal Skilled Trades Program

This is the largest Express Entry draw and the number of invitations raised by 750 in comparison to the previous draw. CRS score increased from 491 to 507.

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First Express Entry draw in 2023 issued 5,500 invitations with CRS score of 507

January 10, 2023

OINP Foreign Worker stream issued 404 invitations

Ontario PNP held a draw on January 10, 2023, and issued 404 invitations under the Foreign Worker stream. Invitations issued for skilled trades occupations were 402. The remaining 2 invitations were issued for Economic Mobility Pathways Project.

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OINP Foreign Worker stream issued 404 invitations

January 10, 2023

British Columbia issued 150 ITAs in the BC PNP draw held on January 10, 2023

British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program held a draw on January 10, 2023 and issued 150 invitations. Candidates whose score was in the range of 60 and 90 received the invitations. The immigrants are eligible to submit applications for a Canada PR visa.

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British Columbia issued 150 ITAs in the BC PNP draw held on January 10, 2023

January 10, 2023

IEC program is accepting applications for 2023 pool. Apply now!

Canada is accepting around 90,000 applications in 2023 through the IEC program. The program has three streams under which applications can be sent. The candidates should be a citizen of any of the 36 countries that have Youth Mobility Agreements with Canada. Candidates should be in the following age group:

• 18-29
• 18-30
• 18-35

The following table is the list of countries whose citizens can apply through IEC:

The three streams of IEC are:

• Working Holiday Stream
• Young Professionals Stream
• International Co-op Internship Stream

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IEC program is accepting applications for 2023 pool. Apply now!

January 10, 2023

IEC program is accepting applications for 2023 pool. Apply now!

Canada is accepting around 90,000 applications in 2023 through the IEC program. The program has three streams under which applications can be sent. The candidates should be a citizen of any of the 36 countries that have Youth Mobility Agreements with Canada. Candidates should be in the following age group:

• 18-29
• 18-30
• 18-35

The three streams of IEC are:

• Working Holiday Stream
• Young Professionals Stream
• International Co-op Internship Stream

Read more…

IEC program is accepting applications for 2023 pool. Apply now!

December 15, 2022

Quebec Arrima Draw invited 1,047 candidates to apply for permanent selection

Quebec issued invitations to 1,047 candidates in the Arrima draw held on December 15, 2022. Candidates having the score of 571 were invited in this draw. The invitees are eligible for submitting applications for permanent selection. They need to have a job offer outside the Montreal Metropolitan Community. The job offer should belong to the following list of occupations:

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Quebec Arrima Draw invited 1,047 candidates to apply for permanent selection

January 09, 2023

1+ Million Job Vacancies in Canada, StatCan Report

According to a report released by Statistics Canada, there are more than 1 million jobs available in the country. The unemployment rate in Canada in December 2022 was 5.0 percent. The number of jobs for the candidates in the age group of 15 and 24 is 69,000, while for 55 and above age group, it is 31,000.

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1+ Million Job Vacancies in Canada, StatCan Report

January 05, 2023

Saskatchewan invited 50 immigrants under Entrepreneur stream

Saskatchewan held a SINP Entrepreneur stream draw on January 5, 2023, and issued 50 invitations to the candidates to apply for a Canada PR visa. The score for this draw was in the range of 80 and 130. Candidates who scored 85 and above were received invitations in this draw. Candidates having the score of 80 along with language proficiency of CLB 6 also received invitations.

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Saskatchewan invited 50 immigrants under Entrepreneur stream

January 05, 2023

IRCC announced $6 million funding for Newcomer Women Pilot Program

IRCC will provide a fund of around $6 million to support 10 projects under the Racialized Newcomer Women Pilot Program. This program was launched by the name of Visible Minority Newcomer Women at Work Program in 2018. The program was introduced to help newcomer women to get employment in Canada.

When the program was started, women used to work in grocery and retail stores. Now they will also be able to get a job in the accommodation, food, and hospitality sectors.

These women are also being helped by various independent organizations to develop language and other skills which will help them to get employment in Canada.

IRCC has also created a Gender-Based Violence Settlement Sector Strategy project so that violence against newcomer women can be ended. The project was launched between the anti-violence and the settlement sectors. This project will help the workers in the settlement sector to deal with the gender-based violence situation.

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IRCC announced $6 million funding for Newcomer Women Pilot Program

January 04, 2023

BC PNP draw issued 211 Skills Immigration invitations

British Columbia held a draw on January 4, 2023, and issued 211 invitations to the candidates to submit applications for a Canada PR visa. The minimum score for this draw was in the range of 60 and 105. The draw was held under the Skills Immigration stream of the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program.

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BC PNP draw issued 211 Skills Immigration invitations

January 04, 2023

Canada creates an all-time record, admits 431,645 permanent residents in 2022

Canada welcomed 431645 permanent residents in 2022 and created a new record. IRCC processed nearly 5.2 million applications for:

• permanent residence
• temporary residence
• citizenship

Canada will also invite more permanent residents as per the 2023-2025 Immigration Levels Plan.

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Canada creates an all-time record, admits 431,645 permanent residents in 2022

January 04, 2023

What is the difference between Canada’s TFWP(Temporary Foreign Worker Program) and IMP (International Mobility Program)?

Canada has more than 100 programs which immigrants can use to migrate to the country. Most of these programs can be categorized in TFWP(Temporary Foreign Worker Program) and IMP (International Mobility Program). Eligibility requirements for both programs are different. LMIA is required for TFWP but not for IMP. Work permits under TFWP are employer-specific only but for IMP, they are either open or employer-specific.

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What is the difference between Canada’s TFWP(Temporary Foreign Worker Program) and IMP (International Mobility Program)

January 03, 2023

359 occupations now eligible under Canada Federal Skilled Worker program. Are you eligible?

IRCC allowed Payroll Administrators to migrate to Canada under the Federal Skilled Worker Program of Express Entry system.

The total number of jobs in the eligible list is 359. Payroll Administrators have to perform the duties listed below:

• Cutting the paycheques
• Payroll information collection, verification, and maintenance
• Employee benefits management

Read more…

359 occupations now eligible under Canada Federal Skilled Worker program. Are you eligible?

Skilled immigrants are needed in Canada to fill jobs, says housing minister

Housing Minister stated that Canada needs more skilled workers to live, work, and settle in the country. According to the Statistics Canada, 959,600 job vacancies are available. The construction sector has 38,905 vacancies. Canada has plans to invite more immigrants as per the 2023-2025 Immigration Levels Plan. The table below reveals the details of the plan:

Read more…

Skilled immigrants are needed in Canada to fill jobs, says housing minister

December 31, 2022

A glimpse of Canada PNP draws in 2022

IRCC invited 53,057 candidates through Canada PNP draws in 2022. The below table gives information on each province’s participation to meet Canada immigration target, 2022. Quebec Invited 8071 candidates to apply for permanent selection in 2022.

Provincial Nominee Program	Number of Candidates invited in 2022
Alberta PNP	2,449
British Columbia PNP	8,878
Manitoba PNP	7,469
Ontario PNP	21,261
Prince Edward Island PNP	1,854
Saskatchewan PNP	11,113
Nova Scotia PNP	162
*Quebec Immigration Program	9,118

December 31, 2022

Have a look at the Canada Express Entry 2022 Round-up

In 2022, Canada Express Entry invited 46,538 candidates. The CRS score of the latest draw is recorded as the lowest compared to the overall scores in the year.

Express Entry 2022 Round-Up
Date of Draw	Draw No.	No. of Candidates invited	CRS Score	Article Title
November 23, 2022	236	4,750	491	11th All program Express Entry Draw invited 4,750 candidates
November 9, 2022	235	4,750	494	235th Express Entry Draw issued 4,750 ITAs with a CRS score of 494
October 26, 2022	234	4,750	496	Express Entry draw issued 4,750 ITAs with CRS score of 496
October 12, 2022	233	4,250	500	Biggest Express Entry draw till date issued 4,250 invitations
September 28, 2022	232	3,750	504	232nd Express Entry draw issued 3,750 invitations
September 14, 2022	231	3,250	510	Biggest Express Entry draw of 2022 invited 3,250 candidates
August 31, 2022	230	2,750	516	230th Express Entry draw invites 2,750 candidates to apply for Canada PR
August 17, 2022	229	2,250	525	New All-Program Express Entry draw issues 2,250 ITAs
August 3, 2022	228	2,000	533	Third all-program Express Entry draw issued 2,000 ITAs
July 20, 2022	227	1,750	542	Canada increases ITAs to 1,750, CRS drops to 542 – Express Entry Draw
July 6, 2022	226	1,500	557	Canada issues 1,500 ITAs in the first All-Program Express Entry Draw
June 22, 2022	225	636	752	Express Entry 225th draw invited 636 PNP Candidates
June 8, 2022	224	932	796	Largest Express Entry draw invites 932 candidates
May 25, 2022	223	589	741	Express Entry draw invites 589 candidates through PNP
May 11, 2022	222	545	753	Canada issued 545 invitations through Express Entry
April 27, 2022	221	829	772	Canada invites 829 PNP candidates through Express Entry
April 13, 2022	220	787	782	Express Entry Draw: Invited 787 PNP candidates
March 30, 2022	219	919	785	3rd Express Entry Draw in March Invited 919 PNP candidates
March 16, 2022	218	924	754	Canada invites 924 candidates in 6th PNP draw – Express Entry
March 2, 2022	217	1,047	761	Express Entry: Canada invites 1,047
February 16, 2022	216	1,082	710	Express Entry: Canada invites 1082 candidates
February 2, 2022	215	1,070	674	Canada Express Entry: 1,070 Provincial Nominees Invited in Third Draw of 2022
January 19, 2022	214	1,036	745	Canada Express Entry: 1,036 Provincial Nominees Invited in Latest Draw
January 5, 2022	213	392	808	Canada Express Entry: First Draw of 2022 Invites 392 to Apply